Overview

• Johnson & Johnson has reached a tentative agreement with more than 40 US states to resolve claims related to its talc-based baby powder, with the healthcare giant expected to pay $700 million.
• The settlement is part of a larger effort by the company to resolve over 50,000 cases from people who claim using its talc-based baby powder caused cancer, including some who allege the product contained cancer-causing asbestos.
• Despite the settlement, J&J continues to maintain that its talc-based products did not cause cancer and did not contain asbestos.
• The company has tried twice to resolve the cases by placing its talc liabilities into bankruptcy, but both attempts were rebuffed by courts.
• J&J stopped selling its talc-based baby powder in the US in 2020, citing 'misinformation' that had sapped demand for the product.