Settlement Covers Nearly All Remaining Claims
Johnson & Johnson has proposed a $5.5 billion settlement to resolve tens of thousands of lawsuits alleging its talc-based baby powder caused ovarian cancer.
The company continues to deny any link between its talc products and cancer.
The deal, announced on July 27, would cover approximately 76,000 claims pending in US federal and state courts.
It represents nearly all remaining ovarian cancer cases linked to the company’s former talc products.
The agreement still requires acceptance by law firms representing at least 95 percent of the claimants before it becomes final.
J&J said the settlement is intended to bring closure to more than 15 years of litigation.
The company expects to pay up to $3 billion in 2027, with further payments due no earlier than 2028.
The total amount could rise depending on how many eligible claimants participate.
J&J has long maintained that its talc products were safe, did not contain asbestos, and did not cause cancer.
In a statement, the firm described the claims as lacking scientific merit.
Company Stands By Product Safety
Erik Haas, the company’s vice president of litigation, said J&J was confident it would have prevailed in court but chose to settle to put the matter behind it.
The pharmaceutical giant stopped selling talc-based Johnson’s Baby Powder in the United States and Canada in 2020.
It discontinued the product globally in 2023 and switched to a cornstarch formula.
The company has previously settled most mesothelioma claims related to its talc products.
It has also resolved consumer protection cases brought by US states.
Settlement Could Exceed Initial Estimate
The latest proposal follows a recent federal court ruling that questioned plaintiffs’ ability to prove specific causation in individual cases.
Plaintiffs’ lawyers involved in the talks described the deal as a fair resolution after a long legal battle.
One attorney representing thousands of claimants said the final payout could exceed $7 billion if participation is high.
The litigation has dogged J&J for over a decade and led to several large jury verdicts in individual trials.
Despite the settlements and product changes, the company continues to stand by the safety of its former talc-based powder.
It cites decades of independent studies and testing that, according to J&J, found no asbestos and no causal link to cancer.
Deal Awaits Final Claimant Approval
The proposed deal would largely end the remaining US ovarian cancer litigation if enough claimants join.