31.3 billion days of price compensation! Johnson & Johnson response: Unfair judgment, continue to appeal

Medical Network July 16 news Johnson & Johnson once again facing the sky-high price compensation for talc powder products.

According to a Reuters news report on July 13, a jury in Missouri, USA, said: 22 women were alleged to have been accused of Johnson & Johnson's talcum powder products (including Johnson & Johnson baby powder) containing asbestos and causing cancer, and ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay 550 million. US dollar compensatory compensation, and $4.14 billion in punitive damages.

Johnson & Johnson's total compensation for this time was 4.69 billion US dollars (about 31.3 billion yuan), which is the highest compensation amount in the talcum powder rights protection case so far. Johnson & Johnson shares fell 1.4%.

The trial of the case lasted more than five weeks, and the plaintiff's lawyer argued that asbestos fibers (in Johnson & Johnson's talcum powder product) were mixed with talc and used to make baby powder, which 22 women used every day for decades. In order to maintain hygiene, six female plaintiffs have passed away due to ovarian cancer. In addition, the jury heard the testimony of nearly 12 experts from both sides before and after the judgment.

Twenty-two women and their families said that they had used Johnson's baby powder and other talcum-containing beauty products for a long time. They accused Johnson, who had known at least since the 1970s that their products contained asbestos, but not for consumption. Give a warning.

At present, Johnson & Johnson still faces about 9,000 similar lawsuits.

In 2012, the St. Louis Court of Missouri, USA, sentenced Johnson to pay a $110 million female in Virginia. The woman was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2012.

In 2017, a jury in St. Louis, USA, ruled that Johnson & Johnson had compensated an ovarian cancer patient for $55 million. The plaintiff in the case was a woman who had to have her uterus removed because of ovarian cancer.

In August 2017, a woman sued talcum powder in Johnson's baby powder to cause ovarian cancer. Johnson & Johnson was awarded 417 million US dollars (about 2.78 billion yuan).

At the same time, according to incomplete statistics, Johnson & Johnson has repeatedly fallen into quality:

2003: 7-year-old American girl Samantha, suffering from serious ibuprofen Adverse reactions , lost 90% of the body's skin, and blindness.

2005: India found that Johnson & Johnson baby products containing liquid paraffin oil are harmful to infants. Indian experts have clearly stated that paraffin oil is not suitable for infants.

2009: Johnson & Johnson is forced to recall 500 batches of painkillers Tylenol, ibuprofen, etc. due to product contamination Non-prescription drugs.

2010: Johnson & Johnson's large-scale recalls involved more than 50 products in 15 times. The recalled products cover almost all of Johnson & Johnson's product fields. In 2010, it was also called the ' Johnson & Johnson recall year'.

2013: Johnson & Johnson issued a statement stating that its subsidiary DePuy has voluntarily recalled some models of knee tibia cuffs. The recall was designated by the FDA as a first-level recall, and the first-level recall was used by the FDA in the 'most serious' situation. The risk of recalled products can cause serious injury to users.

2016: Johnson & Johnson has caused ovarian cancer in female consumers because of the sales of talcum powder. It has been reported to the court six times. Johnson & Johnson has lost four of these lawsuits and was fined $307 million with the talcum powder supplier.

2017: Johnson & Johnson won, the blistering carcinogenic case of $72 million was decided. In October 2017, the court vetoed Johnson & Johnson to pay $72 million to an Alabama woman. February 2016, Johnson & Johnson The company was awarded compensation for the use of Johnson & Johnson baby 4. The woman who suffered from ovarian cancer was $ 72 million.

2018: Reuters reported that as of now, Johnson & Johnson in the United States has received 6610 plaintiffs related to its talcum powder products. These prosecutions are largely based on Johnson & Johnson's failure to warn women in advance. Its products may be at risk of ovarian cancer.

However, in the follow-up of Johnson & Johnson's appeal, there were often cases in which the court overturned the high-priced penalty judgment.

In a number of previous lawsuits, Johnson & Johnson has consistently maintained that the relationship between ovarian cancer and talc has not been found through comprehensive research. In a statement, Johnson & Johnson spokesman Goodrich said that despite the company's impact on ovarian cancer The patient feels sympathetic, but science supports the health of Johnson's baby powder. Goodrich said the company is preparing for other trials in the US and will continue to defend the safety of its products.

Whether or not talc is carcinogenic is still controversial in the medical field. As far as the current research results are concerned, it is still unknown whether a definitive conclusion can be made.

' Johnson & Johnson should remove talc from the market before (the talcum powder to consumers) cause further damage, 'Laniel, the chief legal counsel of the women plaintiff and his family, said in a statement. Johnson & Johnson insists on continuing to sell their talc products, and they should also issue serious warnings at the same time.

The plaintiff's lawyer believes that talc powder products (in Johnson & Johnson) can cause mesothelioma (a tissue tumor closely related to asbestos exposure) in other cases.

The British "Daily Mail" previously reported that the first contact between talc and ovarian cancer may be linked back to 1971, when a study found talc particles in ovarian tumors.

The American Cancer Society has previously said that some studies examining whether this powder causes ovarian cancer have found that the use of this talc does increase the risk of ovarian cancer in women, but other studies have found no relationship.

The National Toxicology Department has not yet fully researched that talc is a carcinogen. In addition, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) conducted a study on various talc samples from 2009 to 2010, including Johnson & Johnson. The body powder said. The agency said that no asbestos was found in the talc powder samples.

However, as talc raw materials are accompanied by asbestos-like impurities, and asbestos has been internationally recognized as a carcinogen, talc is used as a talc in various regions of the country. cosmetic When the raw materials are used, they will strictly control the asbestos residue.

Another long-term follow-up study did not prove a link between talcum powder and ovarian cancer. The National Cancer Institute reported in its research report on its official website that 'existing evidence is not sufficient to prove talc The relationship between powder and ovarian cancer. '

Original national food drug The Supervisory Authority has issued relevant requirements for talc powder products, stipulates that 'asbestos should not be detected in talcum powder', and 'the powder should be kept away from the nose and mouth during the production and use of powdered products'.

Johnson & Johnson officials said that there is no connection between the use of talcum powder and ovarian cancer, and repeated scientific research has not found any evidence. Therefore, the company does not need to warn that talcum powder will increase the risk of cancer.

According to reports, Johnson & Johnson said that it was 'deeply disappointed' with the results of the judgment, saying that the verdict was 'substantially unfair' and planned to file an appeal. The media reported that the United States’ punitive damages, especially These are cases that are many times higher than compensatory compensation, and the total amount is often reduced by the judge or revoked when the defendant appeals.

'After the appeals process, every judgment of the court against Johnson & Johnson was revoked, and the multiple errors that occurred in this trial were more serious than those that had been revoked before.

Johnson & Johnson also said it will seek all possible means of appeal.

Johnson & Johnson has said more than once that the company's talc powder products have been safe and do not contain asbestos. In addition, Johnson & Johnson has successfully overturned many jury verdicts.

The judgment was also the first in a series of personal injuries suffered by consumers. These trials also confirmed some of the plaintiff's rhetoric that the asbestos component of Johnson & Johnson's iconic talcum powder product can cause ovarian cancer.

According to the data, asbestos fiber is a very small fiber that is almost invisible to the naked eye. These fine fibers can be floated in the air for a long time after being released. Asbestos fibers inhaled into the human body can accumulate for many years and eventually adhere to and deposit in the lungs. Department, causing lung disease. CNN reports that talc deposits are usually located near the minerals that make up asbestos and are one of the softest minerals on the planet, and studies have shown that they have cross-contamination during mining. risks of.