Johnson & Johnson has offered to pay up to $5.5 billion to resolve approximately 76,000 lawsuits in the United States that claim its talcum powder products caused ovarian cancer. The New Jersey-based company, known for its baby powder, has put forth this settlement in an effort to conclude a long-running legal dispute.
The company has described the claims as "meritless" and continues to deny that its talc-based products caused cancer. Johnson & Johnson changed the formula of its baby powder in the U.S. in 2020, switching from talc to cornstarch, and adopted the cornstarch formula globally in 2023.
Under the proposed settlement, payments are expected to be made in 2027 and 2028, with an initial amount of approximately $3 billion (£2.26 billion) scheduled for 2027. Lawyers for the claimants suggest that the total payout could exceed $7 billion (£5.26 billion) as the settlement is uncapped.
Erik Haas, Johnson & Johnson's vice president of litigation, stated that the resolution allows the company to move past this issue. "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," Haas said. The company also maintains that studies show talc is safe, does not contain asbestos, and does not cause cancer.
Chris Seeger, a lead attorney for the claimants, indicated that the settlement would provide his clients with "fair and meaningful compensation." He added, "More than a decade of protracted litigation and three failed bankruptcies has left tens of thousands of women and their families waiting far too long for relief."
For the settlement to be finalized, legal firms representing 95 percent of the claims in U.S. courts must agree to the terms. Johnson & Johnson had previously attempted to settle cases through bankruptcy filings by a subsidiary, but these attempts were dismissed.
Meanwhile, in Britain, over 3,000 individuals filed lawsuits at the High Court last year. These claims allege that they or family members developed ovarian cancer or mesothelioma as a result of using the baby powder between 1965 and 2023. Kenvue, Johnson & Johnson's consumer business which was split off in 2023, holds liability for the baby powder outside North America. The UK claims assert that the company was aware of asbestos contamination in its talc products and continued to sell them. Lawyers estimate these claims could be worth around £1 billion.
A trial for the UK cases is scheduled to commence in February 2028. Tom Longstaff, a partner at KP Law representing the group action in England and Wales, commented that the U.S. settlement offers "some measure of finality... with substantial compensation." However, he clarified that this deal does not impact the ongoing claims in the UK and other global jurisdictions. Kenvue stated it will continue to defend itself against claims outside the U.S., asserting that the safety of Johnson's Baby Powder is supported by extensive testing and that the talc used complied with regulatory standards and did not contain asbestos or cause cancer.