** Shares of the drug maker Viatris VTRS.O rise about 2.6% to $7.82 premarket

** Co says would pay up to $335 mln over nine years as part of a nationwide settlement to resolve opioid related claims

** VTRS to pay between $27.5 mln to $40 mln annually toward state and local opioid initiatives

** As of last close, stock down 38.8% YTD

(Reporting by Sruthi Narasimha Chari in Bengaluru)

((Sruthinarasimha.chari@thomsonreuters.com))