Johnson & Johnson offers $5.5bn to settle talc cancer lawsuits
Johnson & Johnson has offered $5.5 billion to settle approximately 69,000 US lawsuits alleging its talc products caused ovarian cancer.Summary
Johnson & Johnson (J&J) has announced a $5.5 billion settlement to resolve tens of thousands of lawsuits in the United States. The agreement aims to address approximately 69,000 cases in federal and state courts, covering 99.75 percent of outstanding talc-related claims. The settlement's finalization is contingent upon approval from 95 percent of the claimants.
The lawsuits allege that J&J's discontinued talc-based baby powder is linked to ovarian cancer. While the World Health Organization classified talc as "probably carcinogenic to humans" in 2024, J&J maintains there is no evidence linking the mineral to cancer. Despite this denial, the company ceased selling talc-based baby powder in the US in 2020 and globally in 2023.
This settlement does not include ongoing litigation in the United Kingdom, which involves over 7,000 potential claimants and is considered the largest product liability case in UK history. The UK case alleges that J&J was aware of potential cancer risks, specifically ovarian cancer and mesothelioma, but continued to market the product.
(Source：Google News)