Talc marketing claims against J&J close to potential settlement with 40+ states

Johnson & Johnson (J&J) has reached a tentative agreement to settle talc consumer protection claims from 42 states for $700 million. This settlement does not resolve the tens of thousands of lawsuits alleging that J&J's talc-based products caused cancer. Some key points regarding the settlement include:

- The settlement was part of a larger $8.9 billion effort in the bankruptcy filing of one of J&J's units to settle the claims.

- J&J has offered $6.9 billion to settle more than 50,000 ovarian cancer claims, with an average settlement of around $130,000 per claim.

- The company has faced legal battles and investigations into links between its talc-based products and cancer for decades, with more than 50,000 claims filed against it.

- The settlement does not resolve the outstanding lawsuits from people who claim that the use of J&J's talc products caused them harm.

- States that did not sign on to the agreement, such as Mississippi and New Mexico, are seeking larger settlements.

J&J continues to pursue several paths to achieve a comprehensive and final resolution of the talc claims.