Bayer reported this week that the number of glyphosate-related lawsuits has doubled since July and has now reached a whopping 42,700 in the U.S.
Germany-based Bayer blamed TV ads for triggering the spike in claims that the weed-killer caused plaintiffs’ cancer and said that the increase does not say anything about the “merits” of the claims. The mounting pressure to settle the lawsuits could also be prompting lawyers to recruit more plaintiffs.
Bayer shelled out $63 billion to acquire Monsanto last year and analysts believe that the glyphosate lawsuits could eventually cost the drugmaker as much as $20 billion for a settlement and other fees.
Bayer and Monsanto have stood behind the continued sale of glyphosate, pointing to research that has deemed the chemical safe.
Read the Reuters report.
