Johnson & Johnson to pay $5.5 billion to settle talc cancer lawsuits

Johnson & Johnson announced a $5.5 billion settlement to resolve nearly 70,000 lawsuits filed across the United States alleging that the company’s talc‑based baby powder caused cancer. The agreement, reached with a coalition of plaintiffs’ attorneys, will compensate claimants who say prolonged use of the product led to ovarian cancer, mesothelioma or other malignancies. The settlement amount, one of the largest in U.S. consumer‑product litigation, will be paid over a multi‑year schedule and does not constitute an admission of wrongdoing by the company.

The settlement concludes a decade‑long legal battle that began after internal documents and expert testimony suggested the presence of asbestos‑like fibers in the talc used in the powder. J&J previously faced multiple jury verdicts and had attempted to resolve the litigation through a $8.9 billion bankruptcy plan for its subsidiary, LTL Management, which was ultimately rejected by the courts. By agreeing to the $5.5 billion deal, Johnson & Johnson aims to close the chapter on the talc controversy while allowing the company to focus on its broader health‑care portfolio.