By Gloria Drealomalicha
American pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson has agreed to pay $5.5 billion to settle tens of thousands of lawsuits alleging that its talc-based baby powder and other talcum products caused ovarian cancer.
The company announced on Monday that the proposed settlement would resolve approximately 76,000 outstanding claims filed against it in courts across the United States, marking a significant step towards ending years of high-profile legal battles.
However, the agreement is not yet final. It must still receive the backing of law firms representing at least 95 per cent of the claimants involved in both state and federal court cases.
In a statement, Johnson & Johnson said it had reached an agreement with the legal teams leading the federal Multi-District Litigation (MDL) and related state court proceedings.
“Johnson & Johnson today announced that it has reached an agreement for a comprehensive resolution of the remaining talc litigation… conditioned on, among other things, the express participation of at least 95 per cent of the remaining claims,” the company said.
The pharmaceutical firm said the proposed settlement followed what it described as a favourable court ruling, arguing that claimants had been unable to provide evidence proving its talc products caused any individual’s ovarian cancer.
Talc, a naturally occurring soft mineral, was widely used for decades in cosmetics and baby powder because of its moisture-absorbing properties. Its safety has, however, come under increasing scrutiny following scientific studies examining a possible link between prolonged talc use and cancer.
In 2024, the World Health Organisation’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified talc as “probably carcinogenic to humans”, further intensifying public concern over talc-based products.
Despite the classification, Johnson & Johnson has consistently denied that its talc products cause cancer, maintaining that decades of scientific research support their safety. The company voluntarily discontinued sales of its talc-based baby powder in the United States in 2020 before extending the decision to global markets in 2023.
Explaining its decision to pursue a settlement, the company said it remained confident it would have succeeded in future court proceedings but believed resolving the litigation would allow it to focus on its core business.
“The court’s order placed plaintiffs in an untenable position of having to present specific causation evidence to maintain their claims that does not exist,” the company said.
“While we are confident the company would have ultimately prevailed with further litigation, as it has in the vast majority of cases tried to date, this resolution allows the company to put this matter behind it and remain focused on its mission to develop medicines and devices that save lives.”
The proposed agreement represents one of the largest attempts by Johnson & Johnson to bring an end to years of costly litigation over its talc products, although it remains subject to approval by the overwhelming majority of claimants before it can take effect.
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