Johnson & Johnson (J&J) has announced a $5.5 billion settlement to resolve tens of thousands of lawsuits alleging that its talc-based baby powder and other products cause ovarian cancer. The agreement, confirmed by plaintiffs' law firms, covers approximately 76,000 claims, representing nearly all remaining talc-related allegations against the company. The settlement must be accepted by 95% of the ovarian cancer claimants in state or federal courts before it becomes final.
J&J has long denied that its talc products caused cancer, asserting that talc is safe and does not contain asbestos. The company stopped selling talc-based baby powder in the U.S. and Canada in 2020, switching to a cornstarch-based formula. Despite this, the litigation resumed in March 2025 after being paused for over three years during J&J's failed attempts to resolve the lawsuits through a shell company's bankruptcy.
The settlement follows a recent court victory for J&J, where a federal judge cast doubt on plaintiffs' ability to prove that talc specifically caused their ovarian cancer. Erik Haas, J&J's vice president of litigation, stated that the claims lack scientific merit but that the company is settling to achieve closure. Plaintiffs' lead counsel, Chris Seeger, described the settlement as ensuring fair compensation for injured claimants after a decade of litigation.
J&J has previously settled most cases alleging that its talcum powder contained traces of asbestos, which is linked to mesothelioma. The company also faces a lawsuit in the United Kingdom over similar claims, with compensation estimates reaching billions of dollars.