Johnson & Johnson has offered up to $5.5bn (£4.14bn) to settle tens of thousands of US lawsuits alleging its talc-based baby powder and other talcum products caused ovarian cancer, aiming to close one of the largest and longest-running legal battles facing the New Jersey-based healthcare giant. The company continues to deny its products caused cancer, but says settling would let it "put this matter behind it" after largely prevailing in cases taken to trial, including a federal court ruling earlier in July that questioned plaintiffs' ability to prove talc directly caused their cancer.

Under the offer, J&J would pay up to $3bn next year, with no further payments due before 2028, and the deal must be accepted by law firms representing 95% of ovarian cancer claimants before it can be finalised. Lawsuits date back to 2009 and centre on claims that talc, mined near asbestos deposits, was contaminated with the carcinogenic mineral; J&J maintains "studies show talc is safe, does not contain asbestos and does not cause cancer." The firm stopped making and selling talc-based baby powder worldwide in 2022, switching to a cornstarch-based formula, while its former consumer health unit, Kenvue, now holds liability for the product outside North America.