Washington, U.S. – Johnson & Johnson Healthcare has reached a historic settlement of approximately $5.5 billion to end tens of thousands of lawsuits that have been ongoing for a decade, linking its talc-based baby powder to ovarian cancer.
Settlement details and comprehensive claims
The company announced on Monday that this massive settlement encompasses approximately 76,000 lawsuits, including consolidated cases in federal court in New Jersey and related cases in state courts, representing nearly all remaining claims against the company regarding its talc. Johnson & Johnson had previously settled most of the lawsuits related to asbestos in its talc causing mesothelioma. Law firms representing the plaintiffs confirmed the agreement, describing it as a positive resolution after a lengthy legal battle, provided it receives the approval of 95% of the plaintiffs with ovarian cancer to become final.
Company position and payment schedule
Eric Haas, the company’s vice president of litigation, stated that the allegations were “baseless,” emphasizing that the company was prepared to settle to move on and focus on developing life-saving drugs and devices. The company is scheduled to pay $3 billion in 2027, followed by further payments in 2028. While the initial valuation was estimated at $5.5 billion, attorney Chris Seager indicated that the final amount could reach $7 billion or more depending on the number of participants, with no upper limit on the total.
Background to the legal battle and market shifts
This settlement comes after a series of legal victories for the company, which has consistently denied the presence of asbestos or that talc causes cancer. The company had stopped selling talc powder in the US in 2020, replacing it with cornstarch, and resumed litigation in March 2025 after its attempts to file for bankruptcy through the “Two-Step Texas” strategy failed. The current settlement agreement covers only existing claims, excluding future ones, allowing for accelerated payments to plaintiffs within 18 months.
