Tag: johnson & johnson

  • Johnson & Johnson stocks drop after file says firm ‘knew’ of asbestos

    : In this photo illustration, a container of Johnson's baby powder made by Johnson and Johnson sits on a table on July 13, 2018 in San Francisco, California. Image copyright Getty Pictures

    Shares in Johnson & Johnson plunged greater than 10% on Friday, after Reuters reported that the united states pharmaceutical large had identified approximately asbestos tainting its talcum powder for decades.

    The file comes as the company faces lots of court cases claiming that its talc merchandise result in cancer.

    Reuters’ overview of documents found the company used to be acutely aware of hint amounts of asbestos due to the fact that at least 1971.

    J&J legal professionals said: “Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder is safe and asbestos-loose.

    “The Reuters article is one-sided, fake and inflammatory. Merely put, the Reuters story is an absurd conspiracy concept.”

    Legal Professional Peter Bicks instructed Reuters in an e-mail. “The clinical consensus is that the talc utilized in talc-primarily based body powders doesn’t cause cancer, irrespective of what’s in that talc.

    “this is precise even though – and it does not – Johnson & Johnson’s cosmetic talc had ever contained minute, undetectable quantities of asbestos.”

    Inner assessments

    Reuters reviewed Johnson & Johnson documents produced as part of the rigors, a lot of which had been protected from view by way of court docket orders.

    The files revealed that the firm’s inside exams infrequently found small quantities of asbestos in its uncooked talc and finished powders.

    Most of the company’s checks didn’t find asbestos, and it did not reveal the tests that did to regulators, Reuters found.

    Mr Bicks said the checks brought up by Reuters article had been “outlier” effects. In courtroom, the firm has argued that some of the files referred to industrial talc merchandise.

    The investor response wiped 10% off the company’s marketplace value at one point, making it the largest loser on the Dow.

    Legal cases in opposition to Johnson & Johnson have had blended effects.

    In July, Johnson & Johnson was ordered to pay $4.7bn (£3.6bn) in damages to 22 ladies who alleged that its talc products led to them to increase ovarian most cancers.

    The verdict marked the largest payout the company has faced over the allegations. The company is interesting towards the verdict.

  • Johnson & Johnson faces $417m payout in recent talc case

    J&J baby powder Symbol copyright Getty Photographs Symbol caption Johnson & Johnson stated the protection of talc was once supported by way of decades of clinical evidence

    Johnson & Johnson has been ordered to pay $417m (£323.4m) to a girl who says she advanced ovarian cancer after the use of merchandise akin to baby powder.

    The California jury’s choice marks the most important award but in a string of proceedings that claim the firm did not competently warn about cancer dangers from talc-based totally products.

    A spokeswoman for Johnson & Johnson defended the products’ safety.

    The firm plans to appeal, as it has in earlier instances.

    “we will be able to attraction trendy verdict as a result of we’re guided through the technology,” Carol Goodrich, spokesperson for Johnson & Johnson Shopper Inc, stated in a press release.

    Analysis: James Gallagher, health editor, BBC news website

    Is talc protected?

    There had been considerations for years that using talcum powder, particularly on the genitals, might build up the danger of ovarian most cancers.

    but the proof isn’t conclusive. The International Company for Research on Most Cancers classifies talc used on the genitals as “in all probability carcinogenic” on account of the mixed evidence.

    Why is there any debate?

    The mineral talc in its natural form does contain asbestos and does lead to cancer, then again, asbestos-loose talc has been utilized in child powder and different cosmetics because the 1970s. but the research on asbestos-unfastened talc provide contradictory results.

    It has been associated with a most cancers chance in some studies, but there are issues that the research could also be biased as they often rely on folks remembering how a lot talc they used years ago. Other studies have argued there may be no hyperlink in any respect and there is no hyperlink among talc in contraceptives corresponding to diaphragms and condoms (which would be with regards to the ovaries) and most cancers.

    Additionally there doesn’t appear to be a “dose-response” for talc, unlike with recognized cancer agents like tobacco the place the extra you smoke, the higher the risk of lung cancer.

    What should girls do?

    The charity Ovacome says there is no definitive evidence and that the worst-case state of affairs is that using talc will increase the risk of most cancers through a third.

    However it adds: “Ovarian most cancers is a unprecedented illness, and extending a small risk by a 3rd nonetheless offers a small chance. So although talc does increase the risk reasonably, very few women who use talc will ever get ovarian most cancers.”