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U.S. Food & Drug Administration’s Take on the Link Between Talcum Powder and Ovarian Cancer

FDA’s Take on Talc & Ovarian Cancer

FDA’s Take on Talc & Ovarian Cancer

Focused on protecting public health, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates various products, drugs and devices. While drugs and medical devices must be approved by the FDA before they are brought to market and sold to consumers, other products – like cosmetics and personal care products – do not require FDA approval before they are sold.

These cosmetic and personal care products are, however, regulated by the FDA. Part of this regulatory authority involves making sure that cosmetic and personal care products are safe and properly labeled.1

Once such product – talcum powder – has become of the focus of FDA scrutiny in recent years. That’s because, according to the FDA, “preliminary results” from “some epidemiologic and animal studies [that] have examined the relation between talc and ovarian cancer” have found that use of talc powder can have “unfavorable effects on the female genital system.”2

Have You Been Diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer after Use of Talc Powder?
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The attorneys at the Amaro Law Firm are ready to discuss your potential claim and explain your legal recovery options. We offer virtual consultations and can travel to your location if you are unable to visit our offices.

FDA Researches Link between Talcum Powder & Ovarian Cancer

Talcum powder is not just on the FDA’s radar. It is currently the focus of an FDA-funded study that is intended to “fill some of the existing data gaps” and provide “experimental models for further mechanistic studies.”

Now underway, this FDA talc study, officially known as Non-clinical mechanistic studies in addressing ovarian cancer risk from talc use in cosmetics, is being overseen by the FDA’s Office of Women’s Health (OWH). Nakissa Sadrieh, PhD is head researcher.

Although this study’s results are not expected for at least one to two years, the FDA is hoping that the findings will provide more conclusive data regarding the link between talc powder and ovarian cancer.

Here, it’s important to note that various talc powder and ovarian cancer studies, conducted over the past few decades, have had a range of findings. While some have indicated that there is no link between use of talcum powder and a higher risk of ovarian cancer, others have indicated that certain uses of talc powder can result in as much as a 30 percent higher risk of ovarian cancer.

Here are more details about the various talc and ovarian cancer studies (and their findings) conducted since the 1970s.

Talcum Powder & Ovarian Cancer Lawsuits

As many eagerly await the findings of the FDA talcum powder study, a number of talcum powder lawsuits have already been filed against Johnson & Johnson (J&J) by injured women.

A few plaintiffs in these cases have already won decisive victories against J&J, with some of the most notable including:

  • $110.4 million awarded to a Virginia woman in May 2017 – This award included $5.4 million in compensatory damages and $105 million in punitive damages.
  • $72 million awarded to an Alabama woman in October 2016 – This award included $4.5 million in compensatory damages and $67.5 million punitive damages.
  • $55 million awarded to a South Dakota woman in May 2016 – This award included $5 million in compensatory damages and $50 million in punitive damages.

J&J has vowed to appeal these verdicts.

While a number of talc powder lawsuits are still pending, some have been consolidated into multidistrict litigation (MDL) in the U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey (MDL 2738). MDLs like this are meant to expedite the pre-trial discovery process.

Contact the Amaro Law Firm to find out whether filing an individual case or joining the J&J talc MDL is right for your claim.

Position Your Claim & Recovery for Success: Contact a Talc & Personal Injury Lawyer at the Amaro Law Firm

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer after a history of using talcum powder, contact a talc & personal injury lawyer at the Amaro Law Firm for a free consultation and indispensable information about your rights.

Call (713) 352-7975, text (281) 612-8024 or email our firm for a free consultation. This one step can be vital to the strength and success of your claim, as well as your recovery.

With the Amaro Law Firm on your side, you can be confident that you have exceptional representation, personal attention and the highest quality legal services for your claim. Our history of successfully resolving our clients’ claims has earned us 5-star ratings on Google and Facebook.

In talcum powder lawsuits, we represent clients throughout the U.S.

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1: More information about the FDA’s regulatory authority and oversight of cosmetics and personal care products
2: More on the FDA’s research on talc powder and ovarian cancer