Johnson & Johnson offers $5.5bn to settle US talc lawsuits

Johnson & Johnson has offered to pay $5.5 billion to resolve tens of thousands of lawsuits in the United States alleging its talc-based baby powder and other products caused ovarian cancer. The healthcare giant announced the proposed settlement on Monday, July 27, 2026, aiming to close a long-running legal battle that has spanned more than a decade.

The settlement would cover approximately 69,000 cases consolidated in federal court in New Jersey and related state court claims, accounting for 99.75 percent of outstanding talc-related litigation in the country. The agreement must still be approved by the federal judge overseeing the litigation and accepted by 95 percent of the claimants to become final. Lawyers representing the plaintiffs confirmed the deal, calling it a good resolution after a decade-long court battle.

In a statement, Erik Haas, Johnson & Johnson's vice president of litigation, said the allegations are "meritless" and that the company was willing to settle to achieve closure. He expressed confidence that the company would have ultimately prevailed with further litigation, as it has in the majority of cases tried to date, but said the resolution allows Johnson &...