The US pharmaceutical company thus intends to put an end to the 70000 lawsuits over the alleged link between talcum powder and multiple cases of lung and ovarian cancer
Johnson & Johnson has reached an agreement to pay €8.133 billion to resolve pending lawsuits concerning its talcum powder product line, which has been accused of causing ovarian cancer and mesothelioma in some users. The agreement will cover both people who have filed lawsuits and those who have not yet done so, and is expected to be the last in a series of settlements aimed at ending the litigation the company has faced over the potential harmful effects of its talc products.
The amount agreed by Johnson & Johnson represents one of the largest sums paid by a single company in connection with a single product in history. The company has repeatedly denied any liability in relation to ovarian cancer and mesothelioma and has maintained that its talc products are safe for use by humans
Despite the company's safety claims, several studies have linked the use of talc products to an increased risk of ovarian cancer and other types of cancer. Since then, Johnson & Johnson has faced thousands of lawsuits from people who were diagnosed with cancer after using the company's talc products for years.
The company has already reached settlements in some of these cases, including a $2.100 billion settlement in 2020 to resolve lawsuits related to talcum powder. However, it still faces numerous pending lawsuits and is seeking to resolve these cases to avoid further litigation in the future.
The settlement also comes at a time when Johnson & Johnson is under scrutiny for other safety issues related to its products. The company recently recalled some of its sunscreens from the market after they were found to contain dangerously high levels of benzene, a chemical known to cause cancer in humans. It also faces lawsuits concerning its arthritis medication, Remicade, which has been linked to an increased risk of infections and other serious side effects.
Overall, the agreement reached by Johnson & Johnson to resolve the pending lawsuits related to its talc products marks a significant milestone in the company's long legal battle and may serve as an example for other companies facing similar lawsuits.