The costs of mesothelioma can be overwhelming. They can include income loss, expensive treatments that may not be covered by health insurance, plus pain and suffering for you and for your family. Because the disease is preventable – and because it is usually caused by someone else’s negligence – legal options may be available to help regain these costs.
Asbestos lawyers focus their practice on knowledgeably and effectively bringing to justice companies that exposed employees and the public to asbestos products.
A mesothelioma attorney can help you consider your options and file a claim against the company responsible for your asbestos-related illness. More than one company may be responsible. A mesothelioma attorney identifies all companies at fault.
Mesothelioma lawsuits have helped thousands of people receive financial assistance. A lawsuit can result in much-needed money to help reduce financial hardships during an illness and can also provide a more stable future for your loved ones. A lawyer specializing in asbestos litigation can help you seek compensation for expenses related to illness caused by asbestos exposure.
Shared Stories: How Asbestos Changed Our Lives Forever now contains more than 200 personal stories about how asbestos has affected people’s lives. The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization has just released a significantly expanded version of its 2013 book and launched a new website to raise awareness about the toxic mineral.
Faces, names and personal details of people who’ve lost their lives or are dealing with an asbestos-related disease fill its page. The first edition contained 70 stories. This new second edition contains more than 100 additional first-hand experiences. It also now features 9 posters showcasing the work of award-winning photojournalist Earl Dotter.
ADAO President and Co-Founder Linda Reinstein says the book’s stories can raise awareness of asbestos’ dangers. She added, these personal stories can help drive policy reform.
Some of the people featured in the book received their mesothelioma diagnosis when they were as young as 14 or 19. Mesothelioma usually affects men over 65 in jobs with high exposure risks. The latency period from exposure to when this rare cancer develops is between 20 to 60 years.
Asbestos exposure isn’t safe at any age or in any amount. Some children are exposed to asbestos in their homes, the environment or when a parent who works with asbestos accidentally brings it home on their clothing or gear.
ADAO’s Share Your Story Campaign
ADAO began a campaign in 2008 called “Share Your Story.” The aim of the campaign was to create a safe place for patients and their loved ones to share personal stories.
It also became a place to draw strength and inspiration from one another. Out of this idea and the community it created, the first edition of ADAO’s book was born in 2013.
Speaking about the new 2024 edition Reinstein tells the Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com, “Our new Shared Stories: How Asbestos Changed Our Lives Forever is a testament to every Mesothelioma Warrior who has shared their painful yet courageous story.”
She adds, “We hope the book will not only inspire but mobilize. By sharing more than 200 stories, we aim to amplify our collective voice, raise awareness and drive the policy changes needed to prevent future tragedies.”
Reflecting on the goals for the new edition, Reinstein shares, “These stories are not just memories. They’re the driving force for a world without asbestos.”
New Website Personalizes Key Asbestos Data
ADAO’s new edition of its book puts a human face to the asbestos crisis. And Reinstein says while the organization’s newly launched website focuses on hard data, it also “brings a deeply personal touch to the statistics.”
Fact-based statistics fill the site. But Reinstein says, “It’s where numbers meet names.” The site also shares “real stories from those affected by asbestos.”
The name of the new website, Every13Minutes.org, highlights the statistic that someone dies in the U.S. from an asbestos-related illness every 13 minutes. Reinstein explains the main ADAO website focuses on education, advocacy and community, but Every13Minutes.org focuses on personalizing key data.
List title: Highlights of Data on Every13Minutes.org
$150,000: The average cost of mesothelioma care for a lifetime
39,275 Americans: The number of asbestos-related deaths in the U.S. each year
109 Americans: The number of asbestos-related deaths in the U.S. each day
255,000 deaths: The number of asbestos-related deaths worldwide each year
Every13Minutes.org has other helpful information, such as a list of the U.S. ports where asbestos is still imported into the country. You can also find important numbers, like the total amount of asbestos brought into the country over the past 20 years.
The organization unveiled the website on September 26th, which is Mesothelioma Awareness Day. This year is also the 20-year anniversary of the ADAO’s founding.
Linda Reinstein and Doug Larkin founded the nonprofit organization, which is now the largest of its kind in the country. The group aims to prevent asbestos exposure and protect the rights of those affected. It does this through education and community initiatives.
Every 13 Minutes website
U.S. Asbestos Bans and ADAO’s Call to Action
Reinstein says, “Every 13 minutes, an American dies from a preventable asbestos-related disease, and this must end. Together, we can end the suffering and death through the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act.”
On Every13Minutes.org, you can take action. You can find a link on the site where you can then write a message to Congress calling for the passage of the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act.
The act is named after Reinstein’s husband, Alan, who died of mesothelioma in 2006. The bill would “prohibit the manufacture, processing, use, and distribution of commercial asbestos and products containing it, and for other purposes.”
Lawmakers introduced the bill in 2019. They reintroduced it in the Senate in 2023.
ADAO’s new website warns toxic asbestos is still legal in the U.S. and is still in use. While the Biden administration officially finalized a ban on chrysotile asbestos in the U.S. in March 2024, the ban isn’t immediate and has limits.
Companies are allowed up to 12 years to gradually phase out the material used in manufacturing. Also, the ban doesn’t apply to all types of asbestos.
More than 60 countries, including Canada and the United Kingdom, have banned asbestos. The U.S. has progressively banned uses of asbestos since the 1970s.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Air Act of 1973. It banned most spray-applied asbestos products for insulation and fireproofing.
In 1989, the agency introduced the Asbestos Ban and Phase Out Rule. It would have prohibited all manufacturing, importing, processing, and selling of asbestos products. However, asbestos industry supporters challenged and overturned the ban in 1991.
Shared Stories: How Asbestos Changed Our Lives Forever now contains more than 200 personal stories about how asbestos has affected people’s lives. The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization has just released a significantly expanded version of its 2013 book and launched a new website to raise awareness about the toxic mineral.
Faces, names and personal details of people who’ve lost their lives or are dealing with an asbestos-related disease fill its page. The first edition contained 70 stories. This new second edition contains more than 100 additional first-hand experiences. It also now features 9 posters showcasing the work of award-winning photojournalist Earl Dotter.
ADAO President and Co-Founder Linda Reinstein says the book’s stories can raise awareness of asbestos’ dangers. She added, these personal stories can help drive policy reform.
Some of the people featured in the book received their mesothelioma diagnosis when they were as young as 14 or 19. Mesothelioma usually affects men over 65 in jobs with high exposure risks. The latency period from exposure to when this rare cancer develops is between 20 to 60 years.
Asbestos exposure isn’t safe at any age or in any amount. Some children are exposed to asbestos in their homes, the environment or when a parent who works with asbestos accidentally brings it home on their clothing or gear.
ADAO’s Share Your Story Campaign
ADAO began a campaign in 2008 called “Share Your Story.” The aim of the campaign was to create a safe place for patients and their loved ones to share personal stories.
It also became a place to draw strength and inspiration from one another. Out of this idea and the community it created, the first edition of ADAO’s book was born in 2013.
Speaking about the new 2024 edition Reinstein tells the Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com, “Our new Shared Stories: How Asbestos Changed Our Lives Forever is a testament to every Mesothelioma Warrior who has shared their painful yet courageous story.”
She adds, “We hope the book will not only inspire but mobilize. By sharing more than 200 stories, we aim to amplify our collective voice, raise awareness and drive the policy changes needed to prevent future tragedies.”
Reflecting on the goals for the new edition, Reinstein shares, “These stories are not just memories. They’re the driving force for a world without asbestos.”
New Website Personalizes Key Asbestos Data
ADAO’s new edition of its book puts a human face to the asbestos crisis. And Reinstein says while the organization’s newly launched website focuses on hard data, it also “brings a deeply personal touch to the statistics.”
Fact-based statistics fill the site. But Reinstein says, “It’s where numbers meet names.” The site also shares “real stories from those affected by asbestos.”
The name of the new website, Every13Minutes.org, highlights the statistic that someone dies in the U.S. from an asbestos-related illness every 13 minutes. Reinstein explains the main ADAO website focuses on education, advocacy and community, but Every13Minutes.org focuses on personalizing key data.
List title: Highlights of Data on Every13Minutes.org
$150,000: The average cost of mesothelioma care for a lifetime
39,275 Americans: The number of asbestos-related deaths in the U.S. each year
109 Americans: The number of asbestos-related deaths in the U.S. each day
255,000 deaths: The number of asbestos-related deaths worldwide each year
Every13Minutes.org has other helpful information, such as a list of the U.S. ports where asbestos is still imported into the country. You can also find important numbers, like the total amount of asbestos brought into the country over the past 20 years.
The organization unveiled the website on September 26th, which is Mesothelioma Awareness Day. This year is also the 20-year anniversary of the ADAO’s founding.
Linda Reinstein and Doug Larkin founded the nonprofit organization, which is now the largest of its kind in the country. The group aims to prevent asbestos exposure and protect the rights of those affected. It does this through education and community initiatives.
Every 13 Minutes website
U.S. Asbestos Bans and ADAO’s Call to Action
Reinstein says, “Every 13 minutes, an American dies from a preventable asbestos-related disease, and this must end. Together, we can end the suffering and death through the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act.”
On Every13Minutes.org, you can take action. You can find a link on the site where you can then write a message to Congress calling for the passage of the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act.
The act is named after Reinstein’s husband, Alan, who died of mesothelioma in 2006. The bill would “prohibit the manufacture, processing, use, and distribution of commercial asbestos and products containing it, and for other purposes.”
Lawmakers introduced the bill in 2019. They reintroduced it in the Senate in 2023.
ADAO’s new website warns toxic asbestos is still legal in the U.S. and is still in use. While the Biden administration officially finalized a ban on chrysotile asbestos in the U.S. in March 2024, the ban isn’t immediate and has limits.
Companies are allowed up to 12 years to gradually phase out the material used in manufacturing. Also, the ban doesn’t apply to all types of asbestos.
More than 60 countries, including Canada and the United Kingdom, have banned asbestos. The U.S. has progressively banned uses of asbestos since the 1970s.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Air Act of 1973. It banned most spray-applied asbestos products for insulation and fireproofing.
In 1989, the agency introduced the Asbestos Ban and Phase Out Rule. It would have prohibited all manufacturing, importing, processing, and selling of asbestos products. However, asbestos industry supporters challenged and overturned the ban in 1991.
Despite objections from the Office of the U.S. Trustee and some plaintiffs’ attorneys, a judge says Johnson & Johnson’s bankruptcy can proceed in Texas. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez ruled the company’s latest case is “different” enough from its previous attempts in New Jersey.
What set this third attempt at bankruptcy apart from previous attempts, according to Judge Lopez, was the recent vote in which a significant majority of plaintiffs voted in support of J&J’s settlement offer. The settlement offer is now nearly $9 billion.
Those opposed to the new filing proceeding in Texas had argued the case should be sent back to New Jersey. The first two bankruptcy attempts were heard in the state where J&J is headquartered.
Bankruptcy Judge Michael Kaplan in New Jersey ruled J&J was not in “financial distress” and dismissed both filings. Judge Kaplan pointed out J&J is a $390 million company and able to handle the costs of ongoing asbestos litigation related to the its talcum powder.
Opposing Arguments Against Proceeding in Texas
Opponents of J&J’s attempt to move its bankruptcy proceedings from New Jersey to Texas called the tactic court shopping, also known as forum shopping. Attorney Sunni P. Beville, representing plaintiffs involved in opposing J&J’s plan, argued, “If that isn’t abusive forum shopping, I don’t know what is.”
The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of the U.S. Trustee argued in court that the tactic was “an assault on the very integrity of the bankruptcy system.” The mission of the Office of the U.S. Trustee is to “promote the integrity and efficiency of the bankruptcy system.”
Beville also said, “This is not how bankruptcy is supposed to work. People see this as a manipulation of the bankruptcy system.”
At the heart of arguments about proceeding in Texas versus New Jersey are roughly 62,000 pending ovarian cancer lawsuits. These claims allege exposure to asbestos caused plaintiffs’ cancer.
Bankruptcy would allow J&J to settle the claims without going to trial. Companies often opt to offer settlements rather than continue to litigate.
J&J’s Bankruptcy Filing in Texas
When the company filed its first two attempts at bankruptcy in New Jersey, it was through its subsidiary LLT Management LLC. The subsidiary was created to hold responsibility for all of the talc lawsuits against J&J. The September 2024 bankruptcy filing is through another J&J subsidiary, Red River Talc LLC.
Absorbing a company’s lawsuits in a subsidiary and then declaring bankruptcy is referred to as the Texas Two Step. Bankruptcy court can enforce settlements that stop all related lawsuits and prevent new ones from being filed.
Lawyer Greg Gordon, representing Red River, argued in court that the subsidiary “has the right to choose the venue that is the most favorable.” He admitted the company filed in Houston to circumvent the New Jersey court that previously ruled against it.
Gordon suggested this was acceptable because most plaintiffs voted to accept the settlement. He added that when the plaintiffs voted on the settlement, they were aware there would be a bankruptcy filing in Texas. Judge Lopez agreed in his ruling.
Despite objections from the Office of the U.S. Trustee and some plaintiffs’ attorneys, a judge says Johnson & Johnson’s bankruptcy can proceed in Texas. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez ruled the company’s latest case is “different” enough from its previous attempts in New Jersey.
What set this third attempt at bankruptcy apart from previous attempts, according to Judge Lopez, was the recent vote in which a significant majority of plaintiffs voted in support of J&J’s settlement offer. The settlement offer is now nearly $9 billion.
Those opposed to the new filing proceeding in Texas had argued the case should be sent back to New Jersey. The first two bankruptcy attempts were heard in the state where J&J is headquartered.
Bankruptcy Judge Michael Kaplan in New Jersey ruled J&J was not in “financial distress” and dismissed both filings. Judge Kaplan pointed out J&J is a $390 million company and able to handle the costs of ongoing asbestos litigation related to the its talcum powder.
Opposing Arguments Against Proceeding in Texas
Opponents of J&J’s attempt to move its bankruptcy proceedings from New Jersey to Texas called the tactic court shopping, also known as forum shopping. Attorney Sunni P. Beville, representing plaintiffs involved in opposing J&J’s plan, argued, “If that isn’t abusive forum shopping, I don’t know what is.”
The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of the U.S. Trustee argued in court that the tactic was “an assault on the very integrity of the bankruptcy system.” The mission of the Office of the U.S. Trustee is to “promote the integrity and efficiency of the bankruptcy system.”
Beville also said, “This is not how bankruptcy is supposed to work. People see this as a manipulation of the bankruptcy system.”
At the heart of arguments about proceeding in Texas versus New Jersey are roughly 62,000 pending ovarian cancer lawsuits. These claims allege exposure to asbestos caused plaintiffs’ cancer.
Bankruptcy would allow J&J to settle the claims without going to trial. Companies often opt to offer settlements rather than continue to litigate.
J&J’s Bankruptcy Filing in Texas
When the company filed its first two attempts at bankruptcy in New Jersey, it was through its subsidiary LLT Management LLC. The subsidiary was created to hold responsibility for all of the talc lawsuits against J&J. The September 2024 bankruptcy filing is through another J&J subsidiary, Red River Talc LLC.
Absorbing a company’s lawsuits in a subsidiary and then declaring bankruptcy is referred to as the Texas Two Step. Bankruptcy court can enforce settlements that stop all related lawsuits and prevent new ones from being filed.
Lawyer Greg Gordon, representing Red River, argued in court that the subsidiary “has the right to choose the venue that is the most favorable.” He admitted the company filed in Houston to circumvent the New Jersey court that previously ruled against it.
Gordon suggested this was acceptable because most plaintiffs voted to accept the settlement. He added that when the plaintiffs voted on the settlement, they were aware there would be a bankruptcy filing in Texas. Judge Lopez agreed in his ruling.
A Pennsylvania jury has found Foster Wheeler Corporation liable and awarded the plaintiff a $3.8 million mesothelioma verdict. A lawyer for the plaintiff argued defendant Foster Wheeler failed to protect employees from asbestos. Evidence presented in the case indicated the company didn’t adhere to Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations.
Plaintiff Harry Chirdon spent approximately 10 weeks working for the company during his decades-long career as a boilermaker. Foster Wheeler began as a manufacturer of equipment for the power industry, Navy and Merchant Marines, including large industrial boilers and boiler components. It grew to become an engineering conglomerate. AMEC purchased the company in 2014 and Wood Group then bought AMEC Foster Wheeler in 2017.
Doctors diagnosed Chirdon with mesothelioma. He had lung surgery at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Lawyers for the 76-year-old from Altoona, Pennsylvania, described his surgery as a “surgical resection.” During this type of mesothelioma surgery, part or all of the affected lung may be removed.
David Halpern, managing attorney for the plaintiff’s law firm noted in a statement: “This verdict is a powerful affirmation of justice. I am grateful for the trust my clients placed in me and proud to advocate for what is right.”
Plaintiff attorney Chris Madeksho added, “This verdict tells his family that his community sees him as a man worth respect, worth caring for.”
Boiler Work and Other High Risk Occupations
Asbestos exposure is the No. 1 cause of work-related deaths worldwide. And occupational exposure is the primary cause of mesothelioma. Both boilermakers and boiler workers are at high risk for asbestos-related illnesses.
Asbestos was commonly used in boilers for its heat resistance. The toxic mineral was added to insulation that wrapped the outside of the boiler to help it retain heat. Boiler workers often had to cut into this asbestos insulation, releasing fibers into the air. These fibers could be inhaled and lead to the development of mesothelioma.
Many boilers today may still contain legacy asbestos insulation. A number of occupations still pose a risk of exposure to legacy asbestos.
Some of the most at-risk jobs for asbestos exposure are construction, firefighting, industrial work, the military, power plant operations and shipyard work. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and OSHA regulate asbestos in the workplace. Employees may file a report with OSHA if they suspect working conditions aren’t safe.
Asbestos exposure in the workplace can cause several diseases, including lung cancer and mesothelioma. Appropriate safety measures always need to be taken when working with asbestos.
Exposure to asbestos is widely recognized as the primary cause of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases such as asbestosis. A new study from experts at Duke University looks at the connection between occupational exposure and asbestosis diagnoses since 2001.
The study’s authors define asbestosis as “diffuse pulmonary fibrosis caused by inhalation of asbestos fibers” that “occurs after heavy exposures to asbestos dust over several decades.” This means it’s a disease that develops when the lungs are scarred and damaged from inhaling asbestos fibers.
Of the 102 asbestosis patients they studied, 8 cases were related to boiler work. There was a wide range of asbestos exposure time among the studied patients. The authors write, “The median duration of exposure was 33 years (range: 2-49 years).”
The most common exposure categories among those studied were:
Insulators (39)
Shipyard workers (16)
Asbestos manufacturing (9)
Boiler workers (8)
Pipefitter/welders (6)
Asbestosis itself doesn’t cause cancer, but because its cause is asbestos exposure, it can signal other asbestos-related diseases may also develop. Among the patients in the Duke study, 94% also had pleural plaques. Among the 102 asbestosis patients there were also 38 cases of lung cancer, 29 cases of pleural mesothelioma and 8 cases of peritoneal mesothelioma.
A Pennsylvania jury has found Foster Wheeler Corporation liable and awarded the plaintiff a $3.8 million mesothelioma verdict. A lawyer for the plaintiff argued defendant Foster Wheeler failed to protect employees from asbestos. Evidence presented in the case indicated the company didn’t adhere to Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations.
Plaintiff Harry Chirdon spent approximately 10 weeks working for the company during his decades-long career as a boilermaker. Foster Wheeler began as a manufacturer of equipment for the power industry, Navy and Merchant Marines, including large industrial boilers and boiler components. It grew to become an engineering conglomerate. AMEC purchased the company in 2014 and Wood Group then bought AMEC Foster Wheeler in 2017.
Doctors diagnosed Chirdon with mesothelioma. He had lung surgery at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Lawyers for the 76-year-old from Altoona, Pennsylvania, described his surgery as a “surgical resection.” During this type of mesothelioma surgery, part or all of the affected lung may be removed.
David Halpern, managing attorney for the plaintiff’s law firm noted in a statement: “This verdict is a powerful affirmation of justice. I am grateful for the trust my clients placed in me and proud to advocate for what is right.”
Plaintiff attorney Chris Madeksho added, “This verdict tells his family that his community sees him as a man worth respect, worth caring for.”
Boiler Work and Other High Risk Occupations
Asbestos exposure is the No. 1 cause of work-related deaths worldwide. And occupational exposure is the primary cause of mesothelioma. Both boilermakers and boiler workers are at high risk for asbestos-related illnesses.
Asbestos was commonly used in boilers for its heat resistance. The toxic mineral was added to insulation that wrapped the outside of the boiler to help it retain heat. Boiler workers often had to cut into this asbestos insulation, releasing fibers into the air. These fibers could be inhaled and lead to the development of mesothelioma.
Many boilers today may still contain legacy asbestos insulation. A number of occupations still pose a risk of exposure to legacy asbestos.
Some of the most at-risk jobs for asbestos exposure are construction, firefighting, industrial work, the military, power plant operations and shipyard work. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and OSHA regulate asbestos in the workplace. Employees may file a report with OSHA if they suspect working conditions aren’t safe.
Boiler Workers and a Recent Asbestosis Study
Exposure to asbestos is widely recognized as the primary cause of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases such as asbestosis. A new study from experts at Duke University looks at the connection between occupational exposure and asbestosis diagnoses since 2001.
The study’s authors define asbestosis as “diffuse pulmonary fibrosis caused by inhalation of asbestos fibers” that “occurs after heavy exposures to asbestos dust over several decades.” This means it’s a disease that develops when the lungs are scarred and damaged from inhaling asbestos fibers.
Of the 102 asbestosis patients they studied, 8 cases were related to boiler work. There was a wide range of asbestos exposure time among the studied patients. The authors write, “The median duration of exposure was 33 years (range: 2-49 years).”
The most common exposure categories among those studied were:
Insulators (39)
Shipyard workers (16)
Asbestos manufacturing (9)
Boiler workers (8)
Pipefitter/welders (6)
Asbestosis itself doesn’t cause cancer, but because its cause is asbestos exposure, it can signal other asbestos-related diseases may also develop. Among the patients in the Duke study, 94% also had pleural plaques. Among the 102 asbestosis patients there were also 38 cases of lung cancer, 29 cases of pleural mesothelioma and 8 cases of peritoneal mesothelioma.
Routine testing found asbestos in Dynacare baby powder, prompting The Dynarex Corporation to recall its product. The baby powder was sold on Amazon and distributed to 12 states for direct delivery.
An investigation is ongoing to determine the source of the asbestos contamination. Asbestos researcher Anna Nowak tells The Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com, “There is no situation in which products containing asbestos should be available for purchase, putting people unknowingly at risk.”
The company says the recall involves lot number B051 and item number 4875. It affects 62 cases of baby powder. The recalled product is in 14-ounce plastic bottles with an expiration date of December 28, 2026.
Cases of the baby powder were sent to distributors in: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, North Carolina, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Washington and Wisconsin. We reached out to Amazon seeking comment, but haven’t yet received a response.
If you bought the product, discontinue use and return it for a full refund. For questions, contact Dynarex via phone at 888-396-2739 or 845-365-8200. You can also email recall@dynarex.com.
Dynacare baby powder expiration date
Potential Health Effects of Asbestos Contaminated Baby Powder
Dynarex wrote in a press release, “Health care professionals and consumers are encouraged to report any adverse events to FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program.” The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says so far there are no reported illnesses from the contamination.
People may not show signs of initial asbestos exposure. However, Nowack tells us, “The dangers of asbestos are well known, with proven links to cancer and other lung diseases.”
Dynarex also noted in its press release: “Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that is often found near talc, an ingredient in many cosmetic products. Asbestos, however, is a known carcinogen and its health risks are well-documented. If talc mining sites are not carefully chosen or if proper steps are not taken to adequately purify the talc ore, it may contain asbestos.”
The toxic mineral can cause several asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos is the primary cause of mesothelioma, for example. The latency period between initial exposure and the first signs of mesothelioma can be 20 to 60 years.
Talcum Powder Lawsuits
Asbestos-contaminated talc used in baby powder is at the heart of tens of thousands of lawsuits. Johnson & Johnson, for example, is facing more than 62,000 cases related to its talc-based products and cancer.
J&J recently tried to file for bankruptcy through a subsidiary. It’s the company’s third attempt to settle its asbestos litigation through the bankruptcy court.
Asbestos was heavily used in many industries and products. It can resist heat, electricity and corrosion. If asbestos fibers become airborne, people can inhale or ingest them.
Routine testing found asbestos in Dynacare baby powder, prompting The Dynarex Corporation to recall its product. The baby powder was sold on Amazon and distributed to 12 states for direct delivery.
An investigation is ongoing to determine the source of the asbestos contamination. Asbestos researcher Anna Nowak tells The Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com, “There is no situation in which products containing asbestos should be available for purchase, putting people unknowingly at risk.”
The company says the recall involves lot number B051 and item number 4875. It affects 62 cases of baby powder. The recalled product is in 14-ounce plastic bottles with an expiration date of December 28, 2026.
Cases of the baby powder were sent to distributors in: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, North Carolina, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Washington and Wisconsin. We reached out to Amazon seeking comment, but haven’t yet received a response.
If you bought the product, discontinue use and return it for a full refund. For questions, contact Dynarex via phone at 888-396-2739 or 845-365-8200. You can also email recall@dynarex.com.
Potential Health Effects of Asbestos Contaminated Baby Powder
Dynarex wrote in a press release, “Health care professionals and consumers are encouraged to report any adverse events to FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program.” The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says so far there are no reported illnesses from the contamination.
People may not show signs of initial asbestos exposure. However, Nowack tells us, “The dangers of asbestos are well known, with proven links to cancer and other lung diseases.”
Dynarex also noted in its press release: “Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that is often found near talc, an ingredient in many cosmetic products. Asbestos, however, is a known carcinogen and its health risks are well-documented. If talc mining sites are not carefully chosen or if proper steps are not taken to adequately purify the talc ore, it may contain asbestos.”
The toxic mineral can cause several asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos is the primary cause of mesothelioma, for example. The latency period between initial exposure and the first signs of mesothelioma can be 20 to 60 years.
Talcum Powder Lawsuits
Asbestos-contaminated talc used in baby powder is at the heart of tens of thousands of lawsuits. Johnson & Johnson, for example, is facing more than 62,000 cases related to its talc-based products and cancer.
J&J recently tried to file for bankruptcy through a subsidiary. It’s the company’s third attempt to settle its asbestos litigation through the bankruptcy court.
Asbestos was heavily used in many industries and products. It can resist heat, electricity and corrosion. If asbestos fibers become airborne, people can inhale or ingest them.
A jury awarded $39 million to a family in a lawsuit related to the use of talc in a medical procedure. Plaintiff Bryce Zundel was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2021 and underwent the procedure at the center of the case in 2014.
Zundel’s lawsuit claimed the talc used in his pleurodesis was contaminated with asbestos. During a pleurodesis, medical-grade talcum powder is injected into the pleural space to prevent fluid or air buildup.
As attorney Danny Kraft with Meirowitz & Wasserberg explained to The Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com, “They covered his left pleural surface with talc, and that’s the exact location where he developed mesothelioma. This isn’t a coincidence.”
Kraft told us, “This is a scientific fact that this product contaminated with asbestos caused the disease.” Asbestos is the primary cause of mesothelioma.
Doctors perform pleurodesis to address and prevent pleural effusions in mesothelioma patients. The procedure is also used to treat pneumonia and recurring collapsed lungs.
Zundel’s pleurodesis involved injecting sterile talc powder around his left lung. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved using talc in the procedure.
Georgia-based talc supplier Cimbar Performance Minerals was the defendant in the case. The company imported the talc used in Zundel’s procedure from China.
File a Mesothelioma Lawsuit
Patients and family members may be eligible to file a lawsuit after a mesothelioma diagnosis.
Setting a Precedent for Other Pleurodesis Patients
Zundel’s case is the first lawsuit and verdict in a mesothelioma lawsuit stemming from talc used during pleurodesis. With approximately 100,000 pleurodesis procedures performed in the U.S. per year and talc the most commonly used agent, many patients may face the risk of asbestos exposure.
Kraft told us, “Patients like Bryce are sometimes missed. We didn’t want this case to be missed. We wanted his case to be living proof that when you inject asbestos into someone’s body, it causes this disease.”
He added, “Our hope is that nobody else has to suffer through the nightmare that Bryce and his family are living with. So that no one else ever receives this procedure, that no one else suffers this fate.”
Lawyers obtained a 5-gram sample of the talc used in Zundel’s procedure. A doctor tested the talc and found it was contaminated with tremolite and chrysotile asbestos.
Kraft recounted, “We were able to show that this product contained asbestos. One of the interesting facts of this case is they imported millions of pounds of this stuff into the country. We were able to show the jury that the defendant knew asbestos was a carcinogen before they ever imported it.”
“One of the themes of our case was, if you know it’s a hazard, if you know it causes cancer, then you have to do more than just test a thimble full to ensure that this product is completely clean – particularly when you know it’s going to be used for a medical procedure,” Kraft commented. “And they didn’t do that.”
Challenges Overcome in This Groundbreaking Case
Mesothelioma cases usually involve plaintiffs who received a mesothelioma diagnosis decades after their initial exposure to asbestos. The latency period for mesothelioma, or the time between the initial exposure and the onset of symptoms, is 20 to 60 years.
Zundel was diagnosed 7 years after his talc pleurodesis procedure. His short latency period posed a unique challenge.
“Everyone said this is an impossible case because of the short latency period,” Kraft shared with us. “Because it was the first lawsuit involving someone having talc pleurodesis develop into mesothelioma.”
As Kraft noted, “It wasn’t an inhalation case.” Most asbestos litigation involves occupational exposure or secondhand exposure involving inhalation of asbestos fibers on or brought home from job sites.Zundel’s medical exposure case raises awareness about other possible forms of asbestos exposure. Kraft hopes Zundel’s case will have a lasting impact on the medical community.
A jury awarded $39 million to a family in a lawsuit related to the use of talc in a medical procedure. Plaintiff Bryce Zundel was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2021 and underwent the procedure at the center of the case in 2014.
Zundel’s lawsuit claimed the talc used in his pleurodesis was contaminated with asbestos. During a pleurodesis, medical-grade talcum powder is injected into the pleural space to prevent fluid or air buildup.
As attorney Danny Kraft with Meirowitz & Wasserberg explained to The Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com, “They covered his left pleural surface with talc, and that’s the exact location where he developed mesothelioma. This isn’t a coincidence.”
Kraft told us, “This is a scientific fact that this product contaminated with asbestos caused the disease.” Asbestos is the primary cause of mesothelioma.
Doctors perform pleurodesis to address and prevent pleural effusions in mesothelioma patients. The procedure is also used to treat pneumonia and recurring collapsed lungs.
Zundel’s pleurodesis involved injecting sterile talc powder around his left lung. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved using talc in the procedure.
Georgia-based talc supplier Cimbar Performance Minerals was the defendant in the case. The company imported the talc used in Zundel’s procedure from China.
File a Mesothelioma Lawsuit
Patients and family members may be eligible to file a lawsuit after a mesothelioma diagnosis.
Setting a Precedent for Other Pleurodesis Patients
Zundel’s case is the first lawsuit and verdict in a mesothelioma lawsuit stemming from talc used during pleurodesis. With approximately 100,000 pleurodesis procedures performed in the U.S. per year and talc the most commonly used agent, many patients may face the risk of asbestos exposure.
Kraft told us, “Patients like Bryce are sometimes missed. We didn’t want this case to be missed. We wanted his case to be living proof that when you inject asbestos into someone’s body, it causes this disease.”
He added, “Our hope is that nobody else has to suffer through the nightmare that Bryce and his family are living with. So that no one else ever receives this procedure, that no one else suffers this fate.”
Lawyers obtained a 5-gram sample of the talc used in Zundel’s procedure. A doctor tested the talc and found it was contaminated with tremolite and chrysotile asbestos.
Kraft recounted, “We were able to show that this product contained asbestos. One of the interesting facts of this case is they imported millions of pounds of this stuff into the country. We were able to show the jury that the defendant knew asbestos was a carcinogen before they ever imported it.”
“One of the themes of our case was, if you know it’s a hazard, if you know it causes cancer, then you have to do more than just test a thimble full to ensure that this product is completely clean – particularly when you know it’s going to be used for a medical procedure,” Kraft commented. “And they didn’t do that.”
Challenges Overcome in This Groundbreaking Case
Mesothelioma cases usually involve plaintiffs who received a mesothelioma diagnosis decades after their initial exposure to asbestos. The latency period for mesothelioma, or the time between the initial exposure and the onset of symptoms, is 20 to 60 years.
Zundel was diagnosed 7 years after his talc pleurodesis procedure. His short latency period posed a unique challenge.
“Everyone said this is an impossible case because of the short latency period,” Kraft shared with us. “Because it was the first lawsuit involving someone having talc pleurodesis develop into mesothelioma.”
As Kraft noted, “It wasn’t an inhalation case.” Most asbestos litigation involves occupational exposure or secondhand exposure involving inhalation of asbestos fibers on or brought home from job sites.Zundel’s medical exposure case raises awareness about other possible forms of asbestos exposure. Kraft hopes Zundel’s case will have a lasting impact on the medical community.
Red River Talc LLC, a Johnson & Johnson subsidiary, filed a “voluntary prepackaged Chapter 11 bankruptcy case,” according to a company announcement. This is J&J’s third attempt at bankruptcy to settle tens of thousands of talc lawsuits.
The company claims in its announcement, “The Plan constitutes one of the largest settlements ever reached in a mass tort bankruptcy case.” J&J also says legal counsel for the majority of plaintiffs “assisted in the development of and support the Plan.”
The claim was filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas. It’s part of J&J’s plan to use the Texas Two-Step. The strategy involves creating a subsidiary that assumes responsibility for talc litigation and then files for bankruptcy.
This latest filing follows the company’s approximately $8 billion settlement proposal. Plaintiffs then voted on the proposal, which received approval from 83%.
More than 62,000 lawsuits claim the company’s talcum powder and other talc-based products caused cancer. Court documents discuss the link between asbestos-contamination and cancer. In May 2024, the National Institutes of Health released research linking talcum powder to ovarian cancer.
Reaction to the Proposed Bankruptcy
J&J claims in its released announcement, “The Plan affords claimants a far better recovery than they stand to recover at trial. Most ovarian claimants have not recovered and will not recover anything at trial. Indeed, the Company has prevailed in approximately 95% of ovarian cases tried to date, including every ovarian case tried over the last six years.”
The company goes on to claim, “In addition, based on the historical run rate, it would take decades to litigate the remaining cases, and therefore, most claimants will never have ‘their day in court.’”
However, some plaintiffs and their counsel remain opposed to J&J’s bankruptcy and proposed settlement. They plan to ask the court to dismiss or transfer the bankruptcy to New Jersey, where courts have denied J&J’s previous bankruptcy attempts.
According to Reuters, attorney Andy Birchfield says he believes J&J’s settlement and bankruptcy strategy is an abuse of the system. He reportedly commented, “We view this so-called vote as another fraudulent effort by J&J to manipulate the bankruptcy process and minimize the legitimate claims of ovarian cancer victims.”
J&J’s Bankruptcy Plan
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Michael Kaplan of the District of New Jersey ruled against J&J’s bankruptcy twice in 2023. In his ruling he explained J&J didn’t qualify because it wasn’t in financial distress.
This latest bankruptcy filing only focuses on ovarian cancer cases. J&J said in its statement, “The Plan would resolve 99.75% of all pending talc lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson and its affiliates in the United States. The 0.25% remaining pending talc lawsuits relate to mesothelioma and are being addressed outside of the Plan.”
Previous filings included plaintiffs with mesothelioma. The company has already settled 95% of its mesothelioma lawsuits. J&J also noted, “The Company previously reached settlement agreements to resolve the State consumer protection claims and all talc-related claims against it in the bankruptcy cases filed by suppliers of the Company’s talc (Imerys Talc America, Inc., Cyprus Mines Corporation, and their related parties).” In July 2024, the company proposed paying Cyprus Mines Corporation and Imerys Talc America $505 million.
Image courtesy of Johnson & Johnson. Images are downloadable for non-commercial use and for purposes such as news reporting or research.All rights reserved.
Red River Talc LLC, a Johnson & Johnson subsidiary, filed a “voluntary prepackaged Chapter 11 bankruptcy case,” according to a company announcement. This is J&J’s third attempt at bankruptcy to settle tens of thousands of talc lawsuits.
The company claims in its announcement, “The Plan constitutes one of the largest settlements ever reached in a mass tort bankruptcy case.” J&J also says legal counsel for the majority of plaintiffs “assisted in the development of and support the Plan.”
The claim was filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas. It’s part of J&J’s plan to use the Texas Two-Step. The strategy involves creating a subsidiary that assumes responsibility for talc litigation and then files for bankruptcy.
This latest filing follows the company’s approximately $8 billion settlement proposal. Plaintiffs then voted on the proposal, which received approval from 83%.
More than 62,000 lawsuits claim the company’s talcum powder and other talc-based products caused cancer. Court documents discuss the link between asbestos-contamination and cancer. In May 2024, the National Institutes of Health released research linking talcum powder to ovarian cancer.
Reaction to the Proposed Bankruptcy
J&J claims in its released announcement, “The Plan affords claimants a far better recovery than they stand to recover at trial. Most ovarian claimants have not recovered and will not recover anything at trial. Indeed, the Company has prevailed in approximately 95% of ovarian cases tried to date, including every ovarian case tried over the last six years.”
The company goes on to claim, “In addition, based on the historical run rate, it would take decades to litigate the remaining cases, and therefore, most claimants will never have ‘their day in court.’”
However, some plaintiffs and their counsel remain opposed to J&J’s bankruptcy and proposed settlement. They plan to ask the court to dismiss or transfer the bankruptcy to New Jersey, where courts have denied J&J’s previous bankruptcy attempts.
According to Reuters, attorney Andy Birchfield says he believes J&J’s settlement and bankruptcy strategy is an abuse of the system. He reportedly commented, “We view this so-called vote as another fraudulent effort by J&J to manipulate the bankruptcy process and minimize the legitimate claims of ovarian cancer victims.”
J&J’s Bankruptcy Plan
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Michael Kaplan of the District of New Jersey ruled against J&J’s bankruptcy twice in 2023. In his ruling he explained J&J didn’t qualify because it wasn’t in financial distress.
This latest bankruptcy filing only focuses on ovarian cancer cases. J&J said in its statement, “The Plan would resolve 99.75% of all pending talc lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson and its affiliates in the United States. The 0.25% remaining pending talc lawsuits relate to mesothelioma and are being addressed outside of the Plan.”
Previous filings included plaintiffs with mesothelioma. The company has already settled 95% of its mesothelioma lawsuits. J&J also noted, “The Company previously reached settlement agreements to resolve the State consumer protection claims and all talc-related claims against it in the bankruptcy cases filed by suppliers of the Company’s talc (Imerys Talc America, Inc., Cyprus Mines Corporation, and their related parties).” In July 2024, the company proposed paying Cyprus Mines Corporation and Imerys Talc America $505 million.
Image courtesy of Johnson & Johnson. Images are downloadable for non-commercial use and for purposes such as news reporting or research.All rights reserved.
A new trial is being ordered in Oregon after a judge overturned a jury’s $260 million mesothelioma verdict against Johnson & Johnson. Judge Katharine von Ter Stegge of the Oregon 4th Judicial District Circuit Court granted J&J’s motion. Judge von Ter Stegge will soon release a written statement explaining her decision.
Plaintiff Kyung Lee plans to appeal the judge’s decision. Trey Branham, a lawyer representing Lee said, “While we respect the court and its ruling, we also disagree.”
In 2023, Lee filed a lawsuit against J&J after receiving a mesothelioma diagnosis. Her lawsuit claims the company’s talcum powder she used for more than 30 years was contaminated with asbestos.
Lee says her mother began using the talc-based baby powder on her when she was a baby. The plaintiff notes she also continued using the product as an adult.
During the trial, a lawyer representing defendant J&J claimed asbestos at a nearby factory caused Lee’s diagnosis. Erik Haas, J&J’s worldwide vice president of litigation, claims the original verdict was “the direct result of numerous egregious errors committed by the plaintiff’s lawyers” and had “no basis in the law or science.”
J&J Legal Issues
Kyung Lee is one of more than 62,000 plaintiffs with pending lawsuits against J&J over claims asbestos-contaminated talc within its products cause cancer. The majority of plaintiffs were diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
While J&J continues to argue its products weren’t contaminated with asbestos, the company recently added $1.1 billion to its $6.475 billion proposed talc settlement. If approved, J&J will pay nearly $8 billion over more than 25 years. However, the proposed settlement won’t affect outstanding mesothelioma talc lawsuits.
The proposal would allow J&J to create a subsidiary to absorb the legal claims and then declare bankruptcy. This strategy is known as the Texas two-step. This would be J&J’s third attempt at filing for bankruptcy.
Legal Battle Between Plaintiffs’ Law Firms
A group of plaintiffs’ attorneys opposed to J&J’s proposed Texas two-step maneuver filed a lawsuit to try to prevent it. Stemming from that litigation back and forth, a new legal battle is brewing between the firms themselves.
Plaintiff firm Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles led the opposition to J&J’s settlement strategy. The firm has now filed a lawsuit against firms it had previously been working with, The Smith Law Firm and Porter & Malouf. Beasley Allen alleges the two law firms are breaking a joint venture agreement to represent 11,000 plaintiffs in J&J asbestos litigation.
Beasley Allen’s filed complaint states: “The financial problems of Defendants Smith and Smith Law have now grown to the point that they are actively undercutting Beasley Allen in settlement negotiations with Johnson & Johnson in an effort to get a settlement that would alleviate their financial problems, but which would not in Beasley Allen’s opinion be in the best interest of the joint venture clients.”
The complaint also alleges: “Defendants Smith Law and Porter Malouf have also failed to comply with their obligation under the JV Agreement to pay 50% of the expenses on a quarterly basis. Defendants Smith Law and Porter Malouf have failed to make all quarterly expense reconciliation payments to Beasley Allen since the third quarter of 2023 and currently owe Beasley Allen $1,164,841.09 for their half of expenses which have been invoiced but not paid.” Attorney Allen Smith of The Smith Law Firm reportedly asserts the claims are “baseless.” He also characterized the suit as “petty tactics” on the part of Beasley Allen.
A new trial is being ordered in Oregon after a judge overturned a jury’s $260 million mesothelioma verdict against Johnson & Johnson. Judge Katharine von Ter Stegge of the Oregon 4th Judicial District Circuit Court granted J&J’s motion. Judge von Ter Stegge will soon release a written statement explaining her decision.
Plaintiff Kyung Lee plans to appeal the judge’s decision. Trey Branham, a lawyer representing Lee said, “While we respect the court and its ruling, we also disagree.”
In 2023, Lee filed a lawsuit against J&J after receiving a mesothelioma diagnosis. Her lawsuit claims the company’s talcum powder she used for more than 30 years was contaminated with asbestos.
Lee says her mother began using the talc-based baby powder on her when she was a baby. The plaintiff notes she also continued using the product as an adult.
During the trial, a lawyer representing defendant J&J claimed asbestos at a nearby factory caused Lee’s diagnosis. Erik Haas, J&J’s worldwide vice president of litigation, claims the original verdict was “the direct result of numerous egregious errors committed by the plaintiff’s lawyers” and had “no basis in the law or science.”
J&J Legal Issues
Kyung Lee is one of more than 62,000 plaintiffs with pending lawsuits against J&J over claims asbestos-contaminated talc within its products cause cancer. The majority of plaintiffs were diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
While J&J continues to argue its products weren’t contaminated with asbestos, the company recently added $1.1 billion to its $6.475 billion proposed talc settlement. If approved, J&J will pay nearly $8 billion over more than 25 years. However, the proposed settlement won’t affect outstanding mesothelioma talc lawsuits.
The proposal would allow J&J to create a subsidiary to absorb the legal claims and then declare bankruptcy. This strategy is known as the Texas two-step. This would be J&J’s third attempt at filing for bankruptcy.
Legal Battle Between Plaintiffs’ Law Firms
A group of plaintiffs’ attorneys opposed to J&J’s proposed Texas two-step maneuver filed a lawsuit to try to prevent it. Stemming from that litigation back and forth, a new legal battle is brewing between the firms themselves.
Plaintiff firm Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles led the opposition to J&J’s settlement strategy. The firm has now filed a lawsuit against firms it had previously been working with, The Smith Law Firm and Porter & Malouf. Beasley Allen alleges the two law firms are breaking a joint venture agreement to represent 11,000 plaintiffs in J&J asbestos litigation.
Beasley Allen’s filed complaint states: “The financial problems of Defendants Smith and Smith Law have now grown to the point that they are actively undercutting Beasley Allen in settlement negotiations with Johnson & Johnson in an effort to get a settlement that would alleviate their financial problems, but which would not in Beasley Allen’s opinion be in the best interest of the joint venture clients.”
The complaint also alleges: “Defendants Smith Law and Porter Malouf have also failed to comply with their obligation under the JV Agreement to pay 50% of the expenses on a quarterly basis. Defendants Smith Law and Porter Malouf have failed to make all quarterly expense reconciliation payments to Beasley Allen since the third quarter of 2023 and currently owe Beasley Allen $1,164,841.09 for their half of expenses which have been invoiced but not paid.” Attorney Allen Smith of The Smith Law Firm reportedly asserts the claims are “baseless.” He also characterized the suit as “petty tactics” on the part of Beasley Allen.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a new first-line treatment for people with pleural mesothelioma that can’t be removed with surgery. This new approval is specifically for a Keytruda (pembrolizumab) plus pemetrexed and platinum chemotherapy combination.
The FDA’s approval follows promising results in phases 2 and 3 of the Keynote-483 trial. This clinical trial involved 440 patients with advanced or metastatic malignant pleural mesothelioma whose cancer couldn’t be removed with surgery. These patients also hadn’t received prior systemic therapy.
The Keytruda regimen was compared against Alimta (pemetrexed) with cisplatin or carboplatin as well as chemotherapy drugs alone. Keynote-483 results show benefits against both the Alimta regimen and the chemotherapy alone regimen.
Compared to the Alimta regimen, the Keytruda option showed significant survival benefits of Keytruda, cutting the risk of death 21%. Keytruda reduced the likelihood of death or disease progression 20% compared to chemotherapy alone.
Median overall survival was 17.3 months for patients who received the Keytruda combo. With chemotherapy alone, the median overall survival was 16.1 months.
FDA officials also indicate the Keytruda regimen appears to be as safe as receiving chemotherapy alone. They say adverse reactions in patients with metastatic malignant pleural mesothelioma were similar to those receiving Keytruda with pemetrexed and platinum chemotherapy.
The FDA notes, “This review was conducted under Project Orbis, an initiative of the FDA Oncology Center of Excellence. Project Orbis provides a framework for concurrent submission and review of oncology drugs among international partners. For this review, FDA collaborated with the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and Health Canada.”
Find a Top Mesothelioma Doctor
We’ve helped patients connect with top doctors to access the latest treatments such as Keytruda and chemotherapy.
Doctors typically diagnose mesothelioma at an advanced stage. As a result, treatment options can be limited.
The prognosis for mesothelioma is generally poor with a 5-year survival rate of 12%. This newly FDA-approved combo of Keytruda with chemotherapy may set a new standard of mesothelioma treatment.
This new option joins Opdivo (Nivolumab) combined with Yervoy (Ipilimumab) as FDA-approved first-line treatments for mesothelioma. Additional clinical trials are underway to continue improving treatment options for mesothelioma.
History of Keytruda
Keytruda is an immunotherapy drug that binds to a type of immune cell. This prevents cancer cells from suppressing the immune system. This in turn enables the immune system to attack and kill cancer cells.
Side Effects of Keytruda With Chemotherapy Drugs
Blisters
Constipation
Cough
Decreased appetite
Diarrhea
Feeling tired or weak
Fever
Hair loss
Joint pain
Muscle pain
Nausea
Rash
Swelling
Trouble breathing
Trouble sleeping
Urinary tract infection
Vomiting
The FDA has approved Keytruda for the treated of melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer and head and neck cancers. You can use it alone or with other drugs.
