Four major drug companies avoided a landmark federal opioid trial by reaching a last-minute settlement on Monday.

Drug manufacturer Teva Pharmaceutical and three distributors agreed to pay $260 million to two Ohio counties, after being accused of contributing to the national opioid crisis that has caused more than 400,000 deaths since 1999.

The settlement was reached just hours before the trial was set to begin on Monday. But future lawsuits could still go forward, including a looming trial involving pharmacy chain Walgreens.

Source: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-opioids-litigation-idUSKBN1X0156