Wednesday, Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) announced its plan to settle most U.S. lawsuits related to its talc-based products and ovarian cancer. The company intends to pay a whopping $6.475 billion over 25 years to settle the ovarian cancer cases, which account for 99% of all talc-related lawsuits against J&J.
Despite two previous unsuccessful efforts to resolve the lawsuits through its subsidiary's bankruptcy, J&J is now proposing to settle the claims through a third bankruptcy filing of its subsidiary, LLT Management LLC. This move aims to address all current and future ovarian cancer claims related to talc litigation in the U.S.
To finalize the proposed settlement, 75% of claimants who allege harm from J&J's talcum products must agree to the deal.
The proposed agreement will not only settle the ovarian cancer claims, but it will also expand J&J's existing settlements with individuals who sued the company for developing mesothelioma, a cancer linked to asbestos exposure, as well as settlements with various U.S. states for not warning consumers about the risks of its talc products.
The company has taken a charge of approximately $2.7 billion in the first quarter to bolster its reserve for talc claims to about $11 billion, highlighting the severity of the issue at hand.
For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com
Business News
May 01, 2026 15:54 ET Central banks dominated the economics news flow this week with almost all major ones announcing their latest policy decisions and many boosted expectations for a rate hike in June. In other news, several countries released the preliminary data for first quarter economic growth. In the U.S., comments by Fed Chair Jerome Powell were also in focus as his term ends this month.