Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) gained 0.60% to $267.54 after the company announced a proposed $5.5 billion settlement covering about 76,000 ovarian cancer lawsuits. The agreement aims to resolve nearly all remaining talc-related claims in U.S. state and federal courts. Meanwhile, the proposal could end a legal dispute that has lasted for more than a decade.
Johnson & Johnson announced an estimated $5.5 billion settlement to resolve thousands of lawsuits involving talc-based products. The proposal covers about 76,000 ovarian cancer claims across federal and state courts. The agreement addresses nearly all remaining active talc litigation against the company.
The settlement requires approval from legal representatives handling at least 95% of the eligible ovarian cancer claims. Johnson & Johnson expects to pay about $3 billion during 2027. Additional payments would follow in 2028 depending on final participation levels.
The agreement does not place a maximum limit on the company’s total financial obligation. Instead, payouts depend on the number of claimants joining the settlement. Some lawyers involved in negotiations estimate the final amount could exceed $7 billion if participation remains high.
Johnson & Johnson maintained throughout the litigation that its talc products remained safe and free from asbestos contamination. However, the company chose settlement after years of courtroom disputes and several legal victories. The proposal allows the healthcare company to resolve existing ovarian cancer claims without further prolonged litigation.
Earlier this month, a federal judge questioned whether individual plaintiffs could directly prove talc caused their ovarian cancer. That ruling strengthened Johnson & Johnson’s legal position before settlement discussions advanced. Meanwhile, previous trial outcomes had produced mixed results for both sides.
The company also attempted multiple bankruptcy-related strategies through a subsidiary to resolve the litigation. Courts dismissed each bankruptcy filing, allowing lawsuits to resume in 2025. As a result, both parties returned to direct settlement negotiations instead of continuing bankruptcy proceedings.
Johnson & Johnson stopped selling talc-based baby powder in the United States during 2020. Later, the company discontinued the product worldwide and replaced it with a cornstarch-based formula. The decision followed years of legal claims and increasing public scrutiny.
Consumers filed lawsuits alleging asbestos contamination in talc products caused ovarian cancer and other illnesses. Johnson & Johnson consistently denied those allegations and continued citing studies supporting product safety. Earlier, the company settled most lawsuits involving mesothelioma claims separately from ovarian cancer cases.
The proposed settlement applies only to existing ovarian cancer lawsuits and excludes future claims. Therefore, additional lawsuits could still emerge after the agreement becomes effective. Nevertheless, the proposed resolution represents the company’s largest effort to conclude one of its longest-running legal disputes.
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