Bayer has won a trial in a lawsuit brought by a California man who said he developed cancer from exposure to its Roundup weedkiller, ending what had been a five-trial losing streak for the company in trials over similar claims.
The company said the verdict was “consistent with the evidence in this case that Roundup does not cause cancer and was not responsible for the plaintiff’s illness”, Reuters reports.
Like most plaintiffs in Roundup lawsuits, Bruce Jones alleged that the product caused him to develop a form of cancer called non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Around 165 000 claims have been made against the company for personal injuries allegedly caused by Roundup, which Bayer acquired as part of its $63bn purchase of US agrochemical company Monsanto in 2018.
Before its recent string of losses, which produced verdicts against the company totalling more than $2bn, Bayer had won nine consecutive trials, meaning it has now won 10 of the past 15 trials. Further cases are expected to be tried in the coming year.
Bayer is appealing the verdicts against it, which include large punitive damages awards that are likely to be reduced because they exceed US Supreme Court guidance.
In 2020, Bayer settled most of the then-pending Roundup cases for up to $9.6bn but failed to get a settlement covering future cases. More than 50 000 claims remain pending.
Reuters article – Bayer wins latest Roundup cancer trial, ending losing streak (Open access)
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