Bayer AG announced Tuesday it is adding $1.3 billion to its existing Roundup litigation settlement fund, bringing the company’s total reserve for glyphosate-related cancer lawsuits to over $17 billion since it acquired Monsanto in 2018.
The German pharmaceutical and agricultural giant said the additional funds are needed to resolve a continuing wave of non-Hodgkin lymphoma claims from former users of its Roundup weed killer.
The Background
In 2020, Bayer agreed to pay $10.9 billion to settle approximately 125,000 claims. However, tens of thousands of new claims have since been filed, prompting multiple rounds of additional reserve contributions.
The core allegation across all lawsuits is that prolonged exposure to glyphosate, Roundup’s active ingredient, causes non-Hodgkin lymphoma — a cancer of the lymphatic system. Plaintiffs include farmers, landscapers, and homeowners who used the product for years.
The Science Debate
Bayer maintains that Roundup is safe when used as directed, a position backed by the US Environmental Protection Agency, which continues to classify glyphosate as “not likely to be carcinogenic to humans.” However, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a branch of the World Health Organization, classified glyphosate as “probably carcinogenic” in 2015 — the finding that triggered the initial wave of litigation.
What This Means for Claimants
Attorneys representing plaintiffs say the new fund should accelerate settlements for claimants who filed after the 2020 deal. Average individual settlements have ranged from $150,000 to $250,000, though amounts vary significantly based on disease severity and duration of exposure.
If you or a family member used Roundup regularly and have been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, you may still be eligible to file a claim. The statute of limitations varies by state.