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Johnson & Johnson Agrees to $5.5 Billion Settlement in Talc Cancer Lawsuits

Published on: 28 Jul 2026, 04:46 AM

Johnson & Johnson has announced a $5.5 billion settlement to resolve tens of thousands of lawsuits alleging that its baby powder and other talc products cause ovarian cancer. The settlement, revealed on Monday, will address approximately 69,000 cases consolidated in federal court and related state court cases, covering 99.75% of remaining talc claims.

Plaintiffs' law firms confirmed the deal, describing it as a good resolution after a decade-long legal battle. The company has consistently denied that its talc products cause cancer, asserting that they are safe and do not contain asbestos. Johnson & Johnson stopped selling talc-based baby powder in the United States in 2020, switching to a cornstarch-based product.

The litigation resumed in March 2025 after being on hold for over three years during the company's failed attempts to resolve the lawsuits through a shell company's bankruptcy. This settlement comes after a significant court victory for Johnson & Johnson last week, when a federal judge cast doubt on individual plaintiffs' ability to prove that talc specifically caused their ovarian cancer.

Source: The Hindu

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