US Supreme Court divided over Bayer Roundup cancer case

Added: 2026-05-07

[00:00:00]The US Supreme Court is weighing a case that could affect more than 100,000 lawsuits against German multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology company Buyer. At the center is Roundup, the world's most widely used herbicide. The key question, can federal approval override state level claims that the company failed to warn users about Roundup's cancer risks? The case stems from lawsuits filed by users who say they developed non-hotchkins lymphoma after years of exposure to the herbicide. In one case, a Missouri jury awarded $1.25 million in damages to a gardener in 2023. A verdict buyer is now challenging. Roundup's active ingredient is glyphosate, the world's most widely used broadspectctrum herbicide. Buyer argues the US Environmental Protection Agency found glyphosate safe in approved labels without cancer warnings, but critics are pointing to a different assessment. The World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies glyphosate as probably carcinogenic. That means there is strong evidence it causes cancer in animals, but limited evidence it does so in humans. The contradiction is at the heart of the legal battle.

[00:01:18]During arguments, several justices appeared divided. Some question whether federal approval should fully shield companies from state level liability.

[00:01:28]The US government has backed buyers position, arguing federal regulators should set the standard, but critics and health advocates say that could limit consumer protection and block victims from seeking compensation. Bayer has already paid billions in settlements and proposed a multi-billion dollar plan to resolve remaining claims. A ruling in its favor could shut down much of the litigation. The court's decision expected later this year could reshape how product safety is challenged in the US.