Bayer’s Monsanto Seeks Court Approval for $7.25 Billion Roundup Settlement

Bayer’s Monsanto unit is set to appear before a Missouri state court on Monday seeking final approval of a proposed $7.25 billion settlement aimed at resolving tens of thousands of U.S. lawsuits alleging that Roundup weedkiller causes cancer. Judge Timothy Boyer will hear arguments from supporters and opponents of the deal, though an immediate ruling is not expected. The settlement is a key test of Bayer’s efforts to end years of costly litigation stemming from its 2018 acquisition of Monsanto.

Bayer faces approximately 65,000 claims from people who say they developed non-Hodgkin lymphoma after using Roundup at home or at work. The proposed agreement would offer eligible claimants payouts ranging from $10,000 to $165,000, depending on factors including cancer severity, age at diagnosis and exposure. Supporters say the deal provides a more certain path to compensation, while opponents argue the payouts are insufficient and could restrict current and future plaintiffs from pursuing their claims in court.

The dispute centers on glyphosate, Roundup’s key ingredient. The World Health Organization’s cancer research agency classified glyphosate as a probable carcinogen in 2015, while the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has said the chemical is not likely to cause cancer under expected real-world exposures. Bayer has consistently denied that Roundup causes cancer, citing decades of studies supporting glyphosate’s safety. A recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Monsanto’s favor has also weakened a central legal argument in thousands of Roundup cases, adding significance to the proposed settlement.

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