Johnson & Johnson faces UK lawsuit over talc cancer claim

Core Viewpoint - Johnson & Johnson is facing significant legal challenges in the UK, with a compensation claim estimated at over £1 billion ($1.3 billion) related to allegations of cancer caused by its Baby Powder containing carcinogenic fibers, including asbestos [1][2][8] Group 1: Legal Challenges - The company has been involved in a series of lawsuits in North America, with the latest claim filed in the High Court in London [1] - Approximately 3,000 complainants in Britain allege that they or family members developed ovarian cancer or mesothelioma from using J&J's Baby Powder [2] - The claim covers the period from 1965 to 2023, asserting that J&J was aware of the carcinogenic nature of its talc products for over 50 years [2] Group 2: Company Response and Separation - J&J is accused of keeping the product on the market for profit, only withdrawing it from the UK in 2023, three years after it was removed from North American shelves [5] - Following the separation of its consumer health arm Kenvue in August 2023, Kenvue retained responsibility for talc-related litigation outside the US and Canada [6] - Kenvue maintains that the safety of J&J's Baby Powder is supported by extensive testing and that the talc used complies with regulatory standards and does not contain asbestos [6] Group 3: Regulatory and Scientific Context - US courts rejected J&J's offer to settle approximately $8 billion over 25 years for around 90,000 civil complaints related to ovarian issues without admitting liability [7] - The World Health Organization classified talc as "probably carcinogenic" for humans in July of the previous year [7] - A 2020 study involving 250,000 women in the US found no statistical link between talc use on the genitals and ovarian cancer risk [8]