Johnson & Johnson offers R$28 billion to settle lawsuits linking talc use to cancer

J&J said the settlement will cover about 76,000 cases, making up most of the remaining talc-related claims. The company said it will offer up to $3 billion next year, with no additional payments due before 2028. The proposal must be accepted by law firms that represent 95% of ovarian cancer cases in state and federal courts before it can be finalized, J&J said. In a statement, Haas said he was confident that he "would have ultimately prevailed in a more in-depth judicial process", as has occurred in the majority of cases tried to date. He added that the proposed resolution "allows the company to put this matter behind it" and enables J&J to "remain focused on its mission of developing life-saving medicines and devices." Lawsuits against J&J over its talc-based baby powder began as early as 2009. In early July, a federal court handed the company a victory when it questioned the individual plaintiffs' ability to demonstrate that talc was the direct cause of their ovarian cancer. ? Talc is a natural mineral composed of magnesium, silicon, oxygen and hydrogen, known for its soap-like texture and often used in baby powder. The company has faced lawsuits from consumers and their families who allege that J&J's talcum powder products caused cancer due to asbestos contamination. Talc is mined from the earth and found in veins close to asbestos, a material known to cause cancer. J&J has repeatedly denied the allegations and in its most recent statement said: "Studies show that talc is safe, does not contain asbestos and does not cause cancer." In 2022, J&J announced that it would stop manufacturing and selling its talc-based baby powder worldwide. The announcement was made more than two years after the company ended sales of the product in the US. "As part of a global assessment of our portfolio, we have made the business decision to transition to an all-cornstarch-based baby powder portfolio," J&J said at the time.