Johnson & Johnson has set aside $5.5 billion to resolve tens of thousands of U.S. lawsuits alleging that its talcum powder-based products caused ovarian cancer. The pharmaceutical giant has offered to pay plaintiffs up to $3 billion in 2027, with any remaining payouts made after 2028.
Background of the Lawsuits
The settlement relates to about 76,000 claims against the company. The proposal needs to be accepted by law firms representing at least 95% of the claimants to go ahead, J&J said in its statement. J&J has been dogged for years by accusations that talcum powder in its products, including baby powder, contained cancer-causing asbestos.
The New Jersey-based firm has repeatedly denied that its products caused cancer. Some scientific studies have shown that women do have an increased risk of ovarian cancer with talc use in the genital area, but others do not. In 2020, the company ditched its talc-based baby powder in North America to rely on a cornstarch-based formula, and did the same in 2023 for its global sales.
Reactions to the Settlement
Erik Haas, J&J’s vice president of litigation, said the lawsuits “lack scientific merit.” Chris Seeger, a lawyer representing some of the plaintiffs, called the settlement “a fair measure of long-delayed justice” in a statement on Monday.
Original reporting: WPBF (Treasure Coast / Hearst) — read the source article.
