At least 20 Irish women are planning to sue Johnson & Johnson over an alleged link between their ovarian cancer and the use of the company’s well known talcum powder.
There are similar cases underway in the US, and solicitors representing the Irish women are awaiting the results of litigation there before proceeding with full cases.
Johnson & Johnson has lost three trials in the US over claims that its talc can cause ovarian cancer, with a jury in the most recently decided case awarding a Californian woman more than $70 million (€64.1 million).
The company is accused in about 1,700 lawsuits of ignoring studies linking its talc products to ovarian cancer and failing to provide warnings to customers.
The verdict in follows damages verdicts of $72 million (€66 million) and $55 million (€50.4 million) against the company in two earlier trials. The company is appealing the cases.
Dublin solicitor Bryan Fox represents up to 20 women who believe their use of talc contributed to their ovarian cancer. Some of the women are deceased and the cases will be taken on behalf of their estates.
“Talc is a mineral that is mined and, in the past, it often contained impurities. Johnson & Johnson was the market leader for this product, both in Ireland and elsewhere,” he says.
A spokesman for Johnson & Johnson said they could not discuss litigation.
“However, we recognise that women and families affected by ovarian cancer are searching for answers, and we deeply sympathise with everyone affected by this devastating disease.”
He said the company was defending the safety of Johnson’s Baby Powder because “science, research, clinical evidence and decades of studies by medical experts around the world continue to support the safety of cosmetic talc”.