Johnson & Johnson has announced plans to set aside $5.5 billion to settle tens of thousands of lawsuits in the United States alleging that its talcum powder products caused ovarian cancer.
The pharmaceutical company said it intends to pay eligible claimants up to $3 billion in 2027, with any remaining compensation to be distributed after 2028. The proposed settlement covers approximately 76,000 legal claims.
According to the company, the agreement will only proceed if law firms representing at least 95 percent of the claimants approve the proposal.
For years, Johnson & Johnson has faced allegations that its talc-based products, including its popular baby powder, contained asbestos, a substance linked to cancer. The company has consistently denied that its products caused cancer and maintains that the claims lack scientific evidence.
Scientific research on the issue has produced mixed findings. While some studies suggest that using talcum powder in the genital area may increase the risk of ovarian cancer, other studies have found no clear connection.
In 2020, the company stopped selling talc-based baby powder in North America, replacing it with a cornstarch-based alternative. The same change was extended to global markets in 2023. Johnson & Johnson said the decision was made to simplify its product portfolio and was not an admission that the talc-based product was unsafe.
The company’s Vice President of Litigation, Erik Haas, reiterated that the lawsuits have no scientific basis, stating that although Johnson & Johnson believes it would ultimately succeed in court, the proposed settlement would allow the company to put the long-running legal dispute behind it.
On the other hand, lawyer Chris Seeger, who represents some of the plaintiffs, described the proposed settlement as a significant step toward delivering long-awaited justice. He also indicated that the total value of the settlement could increase beyond the announced amount.
The announcement comes shortly after a federal judge questioned roughly 69,000 claims, ruling that plaintiffs must provide specific evidence linking their ovarian cancer to Johnson & Johnson’s talc-based products.
The legal battles have produced mixed outcomes over the years. While some juries have ruled in favor of the company, others have awarded substantial damages to plaintiffs.
In one of the most notable cases, a Los Angeles jury ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay $966 million to the family of a woman who died from mesothelioma, a cancer commonly associated with asbestos exposure. The company has said it intends to challenge that verdict through the appeals process.
