The US healthcare giant Johnson & Johnson (J&J) is facing a potential class action lawsuit in the UK for the first time over allegedly carcinogenic talcum powder.

KP Law, which represents approximately 2,000 clients and was contacted by another 4,000 affected individuals, stated that the plaintiffs suffered from cancer caused by the use of J&J talc products. Most of the potential plaintiffs are women with ovarian cancer, but men with mesothelioma and peritoneal cancer could also be affected.

Many of our clients have suffered immeasurable anguish due to a cancer diagnosis. Some have already passed away, their families are devastated," said Tom Longstaff, partner at KP Law. "These innocent people deserve justice.

Johnson & Johnson rejected the allegations and emphasized that independent scientific studies could not demonstrate a link between talc products and cancer risks such as ovarian cancer or mesothelioma. Erik Haas, worldwide vice president for litigation at J&J, described the lawsuits as part of a campaign by U.S. mass tort attorneys spreading a "false narrative.

Since the spin-off of the consumer goods business Kenvue in 2023, responsibility for all talc liability claims outside the USA and Canada lies with Kenvue, Haas further explained. A British subsidiary of Kenvue expressed its sympathy for cancer patients and their families, but emphasized that scientific evidence would demonstrate the safety of the products.

The case gains additional explosiveness through a recent evaluation by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) of the World Health Organization. In July 2023, it classified talcum powder as "probably carcinogenic." The assessment is based on findings from 29 experts who determined that talc exhibits the characteristic features of a carcinogen.

J&J has already set aside $12 billion in the US to settle tens of thousands of claims. The company is attempting to resolve these through a so-called "Texas Two-Step" process via a subsidiary and Chapter 11 bankruptcy. However, several courts in the US have made rulings against J&J.