Since 2018, Bayer has faced thousands of U.S. lawsuits over its Roundup herbicide. The German group is now proposing a $7.25 billion settlement plan as it seeks to curb future claims.

Bayer on Tuesday proposed a $7.25 billion compensation plan to settle current and future U.S. claims alleging that glyphosate causes cancer.

Glyphosate is the active ingredient in Monsanto’s Roundup herbicide. Bayer acquired Monsanto in 2018. Plaintiffs allege the product causes non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL), a cancer of the lymphatic system.

Under the proposed class settlement framework, the company said capped annual payments that would decline over time would be made over a period of up to 21 years. The proposal, endorsed by the lead law firms representing plaintiffs, still requires approval from a Missouri court, the state where Monsanto was founded.

“The proposed class settlement agreement, together with the Supreme Court case, provides an essential path out of the litigation uncertainty and enables us to devote our full attention to furthering the innovations that lie at the core of our mission: Health for all, Hunger for none,” Chief Executive Bill Anderson said.

The proposed amount would be in addition to the roughly $10 billion Bayer has already paid to resolve about 130,000 lawsuits through out-of-court settlements.

In January, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear Bayer’s arguments challenging Roundup-related claims. A decision is expected by June.

“The Supreme Court decision to take the case is good news for U.S. farmers, who need regulatory clarity. It’s also an important step in our multi-pronged strategy to significantly contain this litigation. It is time for the U.S. legal system to establish that companies should not be punished under state laws for complying with federal warning label requirements,” Anderson said at the time.

Since completing its $63 billion acquisition of Monsanto, Bayer has consistently denied that Roundup poses cancer risks.

“Monsanto is taking the Roundup-related actions solely to contain the litigation, and the settlement agreements do not contain any admission of liability or wrongdoing. Leading regulators worldwide, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and EU authorities, continue to conclude, based on an extensive body of scientific evidence, that glyphosate-based herbicides can be used safely and are not carcinogenic,” the company said.

Analysts say a favorable Supreme Court ruling could lead to the dismissal of thousands of lawsuits and limit future claims. In that case, Bayer would not need to seek bankruptcy protection for its Monsanto agrochemical unit.

A Wall Street Journal report published in May 2025 said the company was considering filing for bankruptcy for its Monsanto subsidiary if its broader litigation settlement plan failed.

Espoir Olodo