Johnson & Johnson has agreed to pay approximately $5.5 billion to settle around 76,000 lawsuits in the United States in which plaintiffs allege that the company’s talc products, including its baby powder, are linked to ovarian cancer.
The agreement covers nearly all related claims pending in federal and state courts. However, it must be accepted by 95% of the plaintiffs before it can be finalized. The company is expected to pay about $3 billion in 2027, followed by additional amounts in 2028. According to lawyers representing the plaintiffs, the total cost could exceed $7 billion, depending on the number and valuation of the claims.
Johnson & Johnson denies that its products cause cancer, describes the lawsuits as unfounded and says it has chosen to settle in order to bring an end to a legal dispute that has lasted about a decade. The agreement does not constitute an admission of liability and applies only to existing claims, not future lawsuits.
The company has also reached out-of-court settlements in cases in which its talc products were linked to mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer.
Johnson & Johnson had previously made three attempts to resolve the claims through the bankruptcy of a subsidiary, using a strategy known as the “Texas two-step”. All three bankruptcy proceedings were rejected by the courts.
Since 2020, Johnson & Johnson has stopped selling talc-based baby powder in the United States, replacing talc with cornstarch as the main ingredient. The company has also settled numerous lawsuits alleging that its talc contained asbestos and caused mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive cancer that most commonly affects the lining of the lungs.
Source: Guardian
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