Johnson & Johnson proposes $5.5bn US settlement over talc cancer claims

The proposed deal could resolve around 76,000 US ovarian cancer claims, but it does not affect the separate £1 billion group action working its way through the UK courts.

Johnson & Johnson has reached a proposed settlement to pay an estimated $5.5 billion, around £4.1 billion, to resolve most of the remaining US lawsuits alleging its talc-based products caused ovarian cancer. 

The agreement covers roughly 76,000 outstanding US claims and is conditional on at least 95% of eligible claimants taking part. Johnson & Johnson expects to pay up to $3 billion in 2027, with further payments due from 2028. The total amount paid could rise depending on participation.

The deal has been welcomed by the lawyer representing thousands of claimants in a separate case being brought against the company in England and Wales.

Tom Longstaff, partner at KP Law, who is leading the group action in England and Wales, said:

“For the claimants, I think the proposed deal is good news. It provides some measure of finality to those who have suffered, and their dependents, with substantial compensation.”

The agreement does not create a compensation scheme for people in England and Wales or change the legal position in the separate High Court action. That case will continue unless a settlement is separately agreed here.

Longstaff said: “This deal does not affect the claims being pursued in England and Wales, Scotland or in other jurisdictions around the world, those claims will continue.”

The High Court made a Group Litigation Order on 10 June 2026, allowing claims involving common allegations to be managed together and appointing KP Law as lead solicitor. A trial is set to begin on 14 February 2028.

Longstaff added: “I can’t predict what Johnson & Johnson are going to do in the future: my job is to represent the interests of claimants here and achieve justice as quickly as possible. If that means taking the case to trial, which starts in early 2028, that is what we will do.”

He said any decision to offer a settlement in England and Wales rests with Johnson & Johnson. “If there is a settlement scheme in the UK, we will advise our clients accordingly.”

We’ve teamed up with KP Law to help people understand the claim and check whether they or a loved one may be eligible to take part.

KP Law is asking for potential claimants to come forward before the end of 2026 so there is time to assess and prepare their claims. The formal court cut-off for issuing new claims is 4pm on 18 January 2027, so people should not leave it until the deadline.

Know someone who used Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder and was later diagnosed with cancer? Share this article with them so they can check whether the claim could apply to them.

Why Johnson & Johnson has settled in the US

Johnson & Johnson has consistently denied that its talc products caused cancer, and says the deal follows a string of recent courtroom wins, including a ruling that cast doubt on whether individual claimants could prove that its talc specifically caused their ovarian cancer.

Johnson & Johnson says settling allows it to bring the litigation to an end without continuing to contest tens of thousands of cases individually.  

The agreement marks a change from Johnson & Johnson’s earlier strategy. Between 2021 and 2025, the company made three attempts to resolve the litigation by placing its talc liabilities into a subsidiary that then filed for bankruptcy. 

All three attempts were dismissed by the courts, and litigation resumed in March 2025. Unlike those bankruptcy proposals, this settlement covers only existing claims rather than future ones. Lawyers involved in the US agreement say payments should be made over approximately 18 months instead of being spread across a decade.

What the talc claim in England and Wales alleges

The £1 billion group action, filed at the High Court in October 2025, alleges that Johnson & Johnson sold talc-based Baby Powder contaminated with asbestos and other harmful particles while knowing of the risks.

The claim concerns products supplied in the UK between 1965 and 2023. Claimants allege that Johnson & Johnson continued to market its Baby Powder as pure and safe despite knowing about the alleged contamination risks.

Johnson & Johnson stopped selling talc-based Baby Powder in North America in 2020 and moved to a cornstarch-based formulation globally in 2023.

Johnson & Johnson and Kenvue UK, which is also named in the proceedings, deny the allegations. The court has not yet decided whether the products caused the claimants’ illnesses or whether the companies are legally liable.

Who may be eligible to join the claim

The group litigation currently covers people who used Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder regularly and were diagnosed with:

• Pleural mesothelioma
• Peritoneal mesothelioma
• High-grade serous cancer of the ovaries, fallopian tubes or peritoneum

People bringing a claim on behalf of a loved one who has died may also be eligible. KP Law says regular use for five or more years may meet its initial eligibility criteria, although every claim will need to be assessed individually.

Check whether the claim could apply to you

Consumer Voice has teamed up with KP Law to raise awareness of this claim and help affected consumers access clear information and specialist legal advice.

Visit the official talc scandal claim website to check whether you or a loved one may be eligible and find out what joining the action involves.

You can also help by sharing this article with anyone who may have been affected. Time limits apply, and some people may not realise that the claim could cover them or a deceased family member.