Singapore - A California jury clears Johnson & Johnson of liability in a case involving a woman who alleged that the company’s talc-based products contain asbestos and caused her cancer.

The jury in Humboldt County Superior Court rejected claims by the woman who said her mesothelioma, a tissue cancer closely linked to asbestos exposure, was caused by JNJ’s talc products, including Johnson’s Baby Powder.

While J&J has been fighting litigation regarding the risks posed by its talc products for several years, the earlier lawsuits mostly alleged that the talc itself caused ovarian cancer. Now plaintiffs are also arguing that asbestos is contaminating the talc, a fact that has been concealed by J&J. Asbestos has been linked to mesothelioma and ovarian cancer. The company faces ~11,700 U.S. talc lawsuits.

JNJ so far has been cleared of liability in three mesothelioma cases while losing two cases in New Jersey and California, with juries awarding $142M in total damages; both cases are under appeal.