Johnson & Johnson announced Monday that it will pay an estimated $5.5 billion to resolve approximately 76,000 lawsuits alleging its baby powder and other talc products caused ovarian cancer. The deal, which plaintiffs' lawyers confirmed after a decade-long court battle, covers nearly all remaining talc claims against the company, including those consolidated in federal court in New Jersey and related state court cases. Johnson & Johnson had previously settled most mesothelioma claims tied to asbestos in its talc.

Erik Haas, the company's vice president of litigation, described the claims as “meritless” but said the settlement allows the company to “put this matter behind it” and focus on developing life-saving medicines and devices. The deal requires acceptance by 95% of ovarian cancer claimants before becoming final.

Johnson & Johnson expects to pay $3 billion in 2027, with further payments in 2028, but the total could climb to $7 billion or more depending on participation, according to Chris Seeger, a lawyer representing about 2,500 clients. The settlement assigns specific values to qualifying claims without capping the total payout.

The agreement comes after a series of court wins for Johnson & Johnson, including a recent federal judge's ruling casting doubt on plaintiffs' ability to prove talc specifically caused their ovarian cancer. The company stopped selling talc-based baby powder in the U.S. in 2020, switching to cornstarch, but litigation resumed in March 2025 after a failed “Texas two step” bankruptcy strategy that saw three bankruptcies dismissed.

Unlike previous bankruptcy proposals, this settlement applies only to existing claims and excludes future lawsuits, which plaintiffs say made more money available and accelerated payments to within 18 months.