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Providing reliable and up- to-date news stories and information on asbestos and mesothelioma

MESOWATCH

<p>The goal of mesowatch.com is to provide readers with relevant news and medical and legal information related to mesothelioma, asbestos, and related topics. To uphold this mission, the mesowatch.com editorial team adheres to the following editorial guidelines. These were written using similar guidelines published by established and reputable media organizations.&nbsp;</p><p>All mesowatch.com information is provided to users free of charge. Any user can contact mesowatch.com either through an online form or phone call and the team will connect them with the appropriate person.</p><h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-use-of-mesowatch-com">Use of Mesowatch.com</h2><p>No member of the mesowatch.com team is a legal or medical professional, though we do consult professionals as part of our fact-checking and review processes (more on this below).</p><p>While the staff of mesowatch.com aims to provide users with well-researched and relevant information, this site is not intended to be a substitute for proper medical care or legal advice. Please speak with a medical or legal professional before determining a course of action for you or a loved one. As stated above, mesowatch.com can help put users in contact with appropriate professionals.</p><h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mesowatch-com-audience">Mesowatch.com Audience</h2><p>Content on mesowatch.com is relevant for a wide audience, including, but not limited to:</p><ul>
<li>People diagnosed with mesothelioma are looking for resources to understand their condition and available medical options.</li>



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<li>People who have loved ones diagnosed with mesothelioma and are looking for additional information on the condition.</li>



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<li>Breaking legal and medical news related to mesothelioma, including legal cases and settlements, and medical studies.</li>



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</ul><h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fact-checking-process">Fact-Checking Process</h3><p>Our fact-checking process starts with reviewing content sources to ensure they are high quality. Next, we cross-check the information in these articles with legal, medical, and scientific reports and/or credible news organizations. Finally, all content is reviewed by appropriate legal and medical professionals to ensure accuracy and proper representation.</p><h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-legally-reviewed-content-on-mesowatch-com">Legally Reviewed Content on mesowatch.com</h3><p>mesowatch.com partners with legal professionals, including attorneys and []s, who specialize in the topics covered in the content published. These professionals will review content to ensure the accuracy of medical content.</p><p>Any medical professional who has reviewed published content will be identified at the bottom of the page.</p><h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-medically-reviewed-content-on-mesowatch-com">Medically Reviewed Content on mesowatch.com</h3><p>mesowatch.com teams up with medical professionals, including those who specialize in the topics covered in the content published. These professionals will review content to ensure the accuracy of medical content.</p><p>Any legal professional who has reviewed published content will be identified at the bottom of the page.</p><h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-accountability-amp-corrections">Accountability &amp; Corrections</h3><p>Mesowatch.com understands it has an ethical responsibility to correct all ambiguities, factual errors, and misrepresentations. If mesowatch.com identifies any such errors, it will correct them as necessary and leave a comment at the bottom of the article to let readers know what was corrected. Anyone who thinks they&rsquo;ve found a possible inaccuracy can contact [].</p><h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-linking-to-mesowatch-com">Linking to Mesowatch.com</h2><p>Users are free to link to mesowatch.com as long as they meet the following criteria:</p><ul>
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Editorial Guidelines

<p>Frontiers in Oncology provisionally accepted a <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/oncology/articles/10.3389/fonc.2024.1410322/abstract" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">case report</a> Friday suggesting the use of first-line nivolumab and ipilimumab could be more effective than chemotherapy in malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (MPM) treatment.&nbsp;</p><p>A team of researchers working in France reported a 74-year-old woman with MPM had a &ldquo;major and sustained 12-month response&rdquo; to the anti-PD-1 nivolumab and the anti-CTLA 4 ipilimumab.&nbsp;</p><p>&ldquo;Our findings suggest a role for ICI in non-resectable diffuse MPM exhibiting PD-L1 overexpression and loss of BP1 expression, and install new hope in their treatment,&rdquo; the report stated.&nbsp;</p><p>The researchers believe this is only the second recorded case of a major clinical response to the use of dual immunotherapy as a treatment for MPM.&nbsp;</p><h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-types-of-peritoneal-mesothelioma-treatment">Types of Peritoneal Mesothelioma Treatment&nbsp;</h2><p>Mesothelioma, a form of cancer whose only known risk factor is asbestos exposure, usually originates in the lining of the lungs. This variant of the disease is called <a href="https://mesowatch.com/mesothelioma/pleural/">pleural mesothelioma</a>. However, <a href="https://mesowatch.com/mesothelioma/peritoneal/">peritoneal mesothelioma</a> affects the membrane around the digestive tract. The prognosis is poor for both these variants, but peritoneal mesothelioma is studied even less because it is so rare.</p><p>Peritoneal mesothelioma patients <a href="https://mesowatch.com/treatment/surgical/">can undergo surgery to remove tumors</a>. Although it has proven successful when combined with <a href="https://mesowatch.com/treatment/chemotherapy/">chemotherapy</a>, the procedure is incredibly invasive. Sometimes the peritoneum must be removed. In some cases, parts of the structures that the peritoneum adheres to, such as the ovaries, uterus and gall bladder, and even parts of the intestines are removed.</p><p>Another treatment option is chemotherapy. It isn&rsquo;t very effective by itself when used for mesothelioma patients, but it works better in combination with surgery and/or <a href="https://mesowatch.com/treatment/radiation/">radiation treatments</a>.&nbsp;</p><h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-immunotherapy-is-the-next-wave-of-treatment">Immunotherapy is the Next Wave of Treatment</h2><p>Immunotherapy is a promising new frontier in <a href="https://mesowatch.com/treatment/">mesothelioma treatment</a>. Its goal is to stimulate the body&rsquo;s immune system to destroy cancer cells.&nbsp;</p><p>Some immunotherapy drugs target proteins that inhibit the body&rsquo;s natural ability to fight cancer. Other drugs, such as nivolumab and ipilimumab, use antibodies instead. The FDA approved the use of those two medications in 2020 to treat some patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma who either didn&rsquo;t respond to surgery or weren&rsquo;t surgical candidates.&nbsp;</p><p>A <a href="https://www.jtocrr.org/article/S2666-3643(20)30186-7/fulltext" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">2021 study</a> showed an overall 23.5% survival rate in malignant pleural mesothelioma patients given nivolumab. However, research into how nivolumab might help those with peritoneal mesothelioma has lagged behind. That&rsquo;s why the case report published Friday is a crucial next step in helping these patients live longer.&nbsp;</p>


Promising Immunotherapy Case for Peritoneal Mesothelioma

<p>A scientist has scored a victory over Johnson &amp; Johnson, which alleged her influential research linking <a href="https://mesowatch.com/talcum-powder/talc-cosmetics-asbestos-mesothelioma/">asbestos-contaminated cosmetic products</a> to the deadly cancer mesothelioma was libelous and fraudulent.&nbsp;</p><p>On Friday, U.S. District Court Judge Georgette Castner granted Dr. Jacqueline Moline&rsquo;s motion to dismiss the lawsuit that LTL, a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of J&amp;J, filed against her. Castner&rsquo;s ruling stated the article was based on scientific opinions protected under the First Amendment.&nbsp;</p><p>In January 2020, Moline, an occupational medicine professor and specialist, and several co-authors published an article in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine that described 33 cases of <a href="https://mesowatch.com/mesothelioma/">malignant mesothelioma </a>among individuals who used cosmetic talcum powder. The article is considered a key reason for a nationwide wave of litigation against J&amp;J by individuals who contracted mesothelioma or ovarian cancer after prolonged, continued use of Johnson&rsquo;s Baby Powder and Shower-to-Shower products.&nbsp;</p><p>LTL claimed Moline knew the article&rsquo;s premise was false, &ldquo;or recklessly ignored available information demonstrating its falsity&rdquo; because she was an expert witness for plaintiffs in the underlying tort cases where patients identified other <a href="https://mesowatch.com/exposure/">sources of possible exposure to asbestos</a>.&nbsp;</p><p>In particular, LTL alleged that some tissue samples referenced in the article containing a type of asbestos associated with talc also tested positive for asbestos &ldquo;encountered in cases of industrial and occupational exposure, not cosmetic talcum powder.&rdquo;</p><p>However, Castner noted in her ruling that the article was upfront about the study&rsquo;s limitations and disclosed that the cases were referred to Moline for evaluation as part of tort litigation.</p><p>The ruling also stated the other alleged sources of asbestos exposure identified by LTL &ldquo;do not render Dr. Moline&rsquo;s finding that the individuals had &lsquo;no known asbestos exposure other than cosmetic talcum powder&rsquo; a verifiably false statement of fact as opposed to a nonactionable scientific conclusion.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p><p>The ruling noted the article stated that it only took into consideration tissue analysis conducted by one of the co-authors, and any analysis that might have been done by other investigators was not presented.&nbsp;</p><p>The ruling also stated that the court &ldquo;must also consider the content of the whole communication and its apparent purpose,&rdquo; and that the article&rsquo;s self-described purpose of underlying the importance &ldquo;of collecting detailed exposure histories &hellip; in patients presenting with mesothelioma.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p><p>Erik Haas, global vice president of litigation for J&amp;J, said Monday that the company <a href="https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/scientist-defeats-jj-lawsuit-over-cancer-research-2024-07-01/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">will appeal</a> Castner&rsquo;s ruling.&nbsp;</p><h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-ltl-and-not-j-amp-j-filed-the-fraud-claim">Why LTL, and Not J&amp;J, Filed the Fraud Claim</h2><p>In the wake of mounting lawsuits from consumers who contracted cancer after using J&amp;J products, the company created LTL in 2021 to assume all its talc liability. LTL then filed for bankruptcy protection in Texas. However, the court has twice rejected LTL&rsquo;s maneuver, known as the &ldquo;Texas Two-Step.&rdquo;</p><p>After both bankruptcy failures, J&amp;J announced it was lowering its proposed settlement agreement with ovarian cancer claimants.&nbsp;</p><p>Last month, attorneys for talc claimants filed a <a href="https://mesowatch.com/cancer-victims-motion-judge-to-block-jjs-bankruptcy-settlement/">class action suit</a> in an effort to prevent J&amp;J from filing for bankruptcy for a third time through LTL after the subsidiary proposed a reorganization plan to pay a proposed $6.48 billion to settle claims filed by <a href="https://mesowatch.com/talcum-powder/lawsuits/johnson-and-johnson/">tens of thousands of women</a> with ovarian cancer. Lawyers for the women called the payout grossly inadequate because each client would receive only $43,000 on average, and liens and attorney fees would be deducted from that amount.&nbsp;</p><p>However, on the same day, Castner threw out LTL&rsquo;s libel and fraud suit, U.S. District Court Judge Michael Shipp <a href="https://mesowatch.com/judge-dismisses-bid-to-block-jjs-6-48b-talc-settlement/">dismissed a preliminary order</a> in the class action suit asking the New Jersey federal court to block J&amp;J&rsquo;s bankruptcy settlement plan.&nbsp;</p><p>If 75% of the claimants agree to the proposed settlement by July 26, the reorganization plan will go forward.&nbsp;</p><h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-long-history-of-j-amp-j-talc-and-cancer">The Long History of J&amp;J, Talc, and Cancer</h2><p>Cancer patients have been filing personal injury lawsuits against J&amp;J for decades, claiming they got sick due to asbestos in its talcum powder products. However, research studies on the link between talc and cancer have shown mixed results.</p><p>The company allegedly knew in 1971 that its baby powder contained talc that had been contaminated with asbestos during the mining process, but continually stated its products were asbestos-free.&nbsp;</p><p>In 2019, J&amp;J finally recalled 33,000 bottles of its baby powder after testing revealed trace amounts of asbestos. The following year, the company ceased baby powder sales in the United States and Canada.&nbsp;</p><p>In recent years, J&amp;J has won some of the lawsuits filed against it but has also had to pay millions to consumers through verdicts and settlements. The company recently settled claims from nearly all the U.S. states plus the District of Columbia for <a href="https://mesowatch.com/breaking-down-the-jj-talc-settlement-by-state-who-gets-what/">$700 million</a>.&nbsp;</p>


Judge Rejects J&J’s Fraud Allegations in Mesothelioma Talc Study Case

<p>On June 28, a federal judge rejected a preliminary order by cancer victims aimed at blocking Johnson &amp; Johnson from moving forward on its proposed&nbsp; $6.48 billion bankruptcy settlement plan. The plan was created to settle tens of thousands of lawsuits alleging the company&#8217;s <a href="https://mesowatch.com/talcum-powder/talcum-powders-that-contain-asbestos/">talc products contain asbestos</a>, which led to victims developing ovarian cancer or mesothelioma, a deadly cancer linked to asbestos exposure.</p><p>Victims in New Jersey <a href="https://mesowatch.com/cancer-victims-motion-judge-to-block-jjs-bankruptcy-settlement/">filed the preliminary order</a> as part of a class action lawsuit. Lawyers for talc claimants filed the order to prevent another planned J&amp;J bankruptcy from being filed in Texas or any other jurisdiction outside New Jersey.</p><p>The move comes just weeks after Johnson &amp; Johnson&rsquo;s subsidiary LLT Management submitted a new plan called &ldquo;Plan of Reorganization&rdquo; to pay ovarian cancer claimants around $6.48 billion over 25 years to resolve 99.75% of its U.S.-based talc lawsuits. If successful, the order would have prevented J&amp;J from filing for bankruptcy outside the state and put a wrench in its plan to push through the settlement plan.&nbsp;</p><p>During Friday&rsquo;s proceedings, U.S. District Judge Michael Shipp said he could not grant the motion because any harm to the victims was &#8220;strictly hypothetical.&#8221; He said he had no jurisdiction to resolve a dispute over &#8220;events that have not, and may never, occur.&#8221;</p><p>J&amp;J hopes to receive support from 75% of the claimants out of the more than 61,000 lawsuits as part of the prepackaged bankruptcy plan. The voting deadline on the plan is July 26.</p><h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bankruptcy-plan-projected-to-pass">Bankruptcy Plan Projected to Pass</h2><p>According to a <a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/breaking-news-jj-talcum-powder-lawsuit-settlements-expected-to-be-approved-by-end-of-july-says-legal-bay-lawsuit-funding-302183920.html" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">press release</a> by Legal-Bay LLC, the multiple, years-long legal disputes against Johnson &amp; Johnson regarding ties between the use of their <a href="https://mesowatch.com/talcum-powder/talcum-powder-and-ovarian-cancer/">talc-based baby powder and ovarian cancer </a>may finally be coming to an end. The bankruptcy filing would enable an expedited plan to be enacted, allowing for a $6.475 billion payout to almost 60,000 plaintiffs.&nbsp;</p><p>Under the new settlement plan, victims would receive smaller payouts as retribution for serious medical conditions. Due to the volume of claimants, each settlement value is expected to be between $50k to $150k for each of the nearly 60,000 claims.</p><p>J&amp;J continues to maintain its talc is safe, asbestos-free, and does not cause cancer. The company says that its bankruptcy settlement is a fair and equitable solution for claimants who could walk away with nothing at all if their case went to court.</p><p>Plaintiffs&#8217; attorneys oppose the plan and say it is a fraudulent attempt to short-change plaintiffs and keep them from getting the retribution they deserve. The settlement is also an attempt by J&amp;J to place billions of dollars of the company&#8217;s assets out of plaintiffs&#8217; reach.</p><h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-j-amp-j-s-700m-finalizes-settlement-over-talc-marketing">J&amp;J&rsquo;s $700M Finalizes Settlement over Talc Marketing</h2><p>On June 11, the company finalized a separate $700 million settlement of an investigation by 42 states and Washington, D.C., into the marketing of its talc-based products linked to causing cancer.</p><p><a href="https://www.nj.gov/oag/newsreleases24/2024-0611_JNJFinalCO.pdf" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Under the settlement</a>, J&amp;J resolved charges that it misled consumers for decades into believing its talc powders were safe. New Jersey will receive just over $30.2 million as part of the resolution, <a href="https://www.njoag.gov/attorney-general-platkin-42-states-announce-700-million-johnson-johnson-settlement/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">state Attorney General Matthew Platkin said.&nbsp;</a></p><h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-johnson-amp-johnson-attempts-multiple-bankruptcy-maneuvers">Johnson &amp; Johnson Attempts Multiple Bankruptcy Maneuvers</h2><p>For decades, people have used talcum powder in a variety of consumer products including baby and hygiene body powder. Studies then began to surface linking the popular talcum powder to deadly diseases such as mesothelioma and ovarian cancer. As a result, people<a href="https://mesowatch.com/talcum-powder/lawsuits/johnson-and-johnson/"> filed thousands of lawsuits </a>against the significant talcum powder producer Johnson &amp; Johnson.</p><p>Johnson &amp; Johnson has made numerous attempts to disrupt these proceedings and avoid having to pay damages to the victims. Part of those maneuvers were two failed attempts by J&amp;J to execute bankruptcy proceedings aimed at ending current and future talc lawsuits.</p><p>The pharmaceutical giant made a strategy, known as a <a href="https://mesowatch.com/jj-faces-new-mesothelioma-trial-in-texas-over-talc-claims/">Texas two-step</a>, a term coined in 2023 when it attempted to create a subsidiary that could absorb its talc liability, and then declare bankruptcy. In both bankruptcy cases, two separate courts found that J&amp;J&#8217;s subsidiary lacked the &#8220;financial distress&#8221; necessary to legitimize a bankruptcy filing.</p>


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