Johnson & Johnson says it will "vigorously" appeal a fine it has been handed after a judge found its actions helped cause opioid addiction in the US state of Oklahoma.
The drug company has been ordered to pay over $572 million (€517 million) for promoting the highly addictive prescription painkillers.
Cleveland County District Judge Thad Balkman said evidence supported the claims the firm had engaged in "false, misleading, and deceptive marketing campaign designed to convince Oklahoma doctors, patients, and the public at large that opioids were safe and effective for the long-term treatment of chronic, non-malignant pain".
He suggested marketing campaigns have caused "exponentially increasing rates of addiction [and] overdose deaths."
He found the marketing "created a nuisance", arguing the actions "compromised the health and safety of thousands of Oklahomans".
Mike Hunter, the Oklahoma Attorney General, welcomed the decision.
He argued: "Johnson & Johnson will finally be held accountable for thousands of deaths and addiction caused by their activities.
"Throughout the trial, our team proved what we have alleged all along - that the company used pseudoscience and misleading information to downplay the use of opioids."
Sabrina Strong, a lawyer representing the firm, called the court's decision "flawed".
She argued: "We have sympathy for all who suffer from substance abuse.
"But Johnson & Johnson did not cause the opioid abuse crisis here in Oklahoma or anywhere in this country."
