Johnson & Johnson said on the 4th that it plans to pay $8.9 billion in compensation over the next 25 years to resolve claims related to its baby powder and other talc-containing products suspected of causing cancer.

Johnson & Johnson said in a statement that its subsidiary LTL Management, which is involved in the claims, has refiled for bankruptcy protection in order to reach a restructuring plan that will “fairly and efficiently” resolve claims against its talc-containing products.

The statement stated that Johnson & Johnson’s US$8.9 billion in compensation proposed this time is a substantial increase from the US$2 billion in compensation promised by LTL Management when it first filed for bankruptcy in October 2021. The relevant settlement plan has received more than 60,000 claimants’ pledged support .

But Johnson & Johnson still denies allegations that its talc-containing products cause cancer. Neither LTL Management’s first or second bankruptcy filing is an admission of wrongdoing, and Johnson & Johnson’s position on the safety of its talc-containing products has not changed, the statement said.

In recent years, Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder and other products have been caught in a carcinogenic scandal. Some consumers have accused its baby powder and other talc-based products of containing asbestos and causing cancer in long-term users. The company has said it will stop selling baby powder made with talc globally in 2023.