Bayer offers $7.25 billion to settle 65,000 U.S. cancer lawsuits
The German pharmaceutical and chemical giant has proposed a long-term compensation plan to resolve thousands of claims linked to its glyphosate-based weed killer Roundup.
Bayer has offered $7.25 billion to settle approximately 65,000 cancer lawsuits in the United States related to its glyphosate-based herbicide Roundup. The proposal, submitted to a Missouri state court, outlines a compensation program that would be financed over a period of up to 21 years.
Glyphosate at the center of legal battle
The lawsuits stem from allegations that Roundup, originally developed by Monsanto and acquired by Bayer in 2018, caused cancer. Glyphosate, the product’s active ingredient, is one of the most widely used herbicides worldwide and has long been the subject of debate over its potential health risks.
Billions already paid
In 2020, Bayer agreed to pay approximately $10.9 billion to resolve a large portion of earlier claims. However, tens of thousands of cases remain pending, prompting the company to present a new settlement offer covering about 65,000 plaintiffs.
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Supreme Court review pending
The proposed settlement requires judicial approval and participation from a minimum number of claimants. Separately, Bayer has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to rule that the Environmental Protection Agency’s approval of Roundup without a cancer warning should preempt state-level failure-to-warn claims.
The Supreme Court is expected to review the matter in April. Depending on the outcome, the settlement framework could either move forward under the proposed terms or provide Bayer with broader legal protection against future liability.
