Johnson & Johnson said it has agreed to pay an estimated $5.5 billion to settle about 76,000 lawsuits over its talc products. The cases center on allegations that the company’s baby powder and other talc-based products caused ovarian cancer.
The announcement marks one of the biggest developments yet in the long-running talc litigation facing the healthcare giant. By putting a multibillion-dollar figure on the agreement, Johnson & Johnson is seeking to resolve a large share of the claims tied to its baby powder business.
According to the company, the proposed settlement covers tens of thousands of lawsuits that have accused Johnson & Johnson of selling talc products that harmed users. The allegations have focused heavily on ovarian cancer claims linked to baby powder and similar products.
The $5.5 billion estimate underscores the financial scale of the talc legal battle for Johnson & Johnson. While the agreement is aimed at ending a major portion of the litigation, the settlement also highlights how significant the talc lawsuits have become for the company’s business and legal outlook.
