Shamita Basu

But notably, the company said this stoppage was not because of asbestos.

It was because of slowing demand, quote, fueled by misinformation around the safety of the product.

The company finally stopped selling talc-based baby powder globally in 2023.

They continue to sell a cornstarch version of the product today.

Gardner says the scale of the harm done is difficult to know.

Right now, tens of thousands of people are suing Johnson & Johnson, claiming that its talc-based products caused cancer.

And over the past few years, Johnson & Johnson has attempted to use a rare bankruptcy maneuver to resolve those claims.

But just this past week, a judge denied the company's proposal, making it the third time the company's bankruptcy trust had been shot down in court.

In a statement, Johnson & Johnson said that rather than appeal, it would return to the civil justice system to, quote, litigate and defeat these meritless talc claims.

Let's turn now to talk about Johnson & Johnson's role in the opioid epidemic in this country.

You've mentioned already that Purdue is the name that most people are familiar with now and associate with the opioid epidemic.

How do you see Johnson & Johnson in terms of placement within the epidemic story?

Well, so tell me, I mean, you've mentioned the FDA a few times now, but I mean, where was the FDA in all of this?

Right.

They approved duragesic.

They approved OxyContin.

But what is the role of the FDA in drug approval processes like these?

And what were their real failures at this time?

And what type of repercussions have there been to this point for Johnson & Johnson for its role in the opioid crisis?

Wow.