Bayer Wins Second Roundup Cancer Case in California

   By Ed Frankl 
 

Bayer AG said Thursday that a jury in California found that its weedkiller Roundup wasn't the cause of a woman's cancer.

The result is the second trial victory the German pharmaceutical-and-chemical conglomerate has had for its glyphosate pesticide, after a jury in Los Angeles ruled in Bayer's favor for the first time in October. Bayer lost its first three cases involving Roundup.

The court in San Bernardino found in favor of the company, after Donetta Stephens said she got non-Hodgkin's lymphoma after having used Roundup herbicide for more than 30 years.

"The jury's verdict in favor of the company brings this trial to a successful conclusion and is consistent with the evidence in this case that Roundup isn't the cause of Ms. Stephens' cancer. While we have great sympathy for Ms. Stephens, we agree with the jury that Roundup isn't the cause of her illness," a Bayer spokesperson said.

Bayer maintains that Roundup, which it acquired when it bought agrochemical company Monsanto for $63 billion, doesn't cause cancer.

The Leverkusen, Germany-based company hopes a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court in a separate case will help put to rest yearslong litigation over the weedkiller.

"The company continues to stand behind the safety of Roundup and will confidently defend the safety of our product as well as our good faith actions in any future litigation," Bayer said.

Legal issues surrounding Roundup have prompted the company to set aside billions in provisions to settle cases.

Write to Ed Frankl at [e-mail]

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(END) Dow Jones Newswires

December 10, 2021 01:45 ET (06:45 GMT)

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