Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) requested the independent testing labs to expedite the testing of recalled baby powder samples. It is on the backdrop of the US FDA issued a warning to Johnson & Johnson that baby powder samples of a particular batch found contaminated with asbestos. The company rushed to announce that its samples are free from asbestos just after eleven days of recalling voluntarily. According to the Wall Street Journal, the tests are more complicated.
Forced to conducts tests in a different room
According to WSJ, a lab in Pennsylvania is forced to conduct the tests in a room, which is designed to conduct gunshot residue analysis for the law enforcement authority and deviates from testing in a standard room. In the tests, the lab found traces of asbestos in the recalled baby powder samples. However, those tests are useless after the discovery of the air conditioner contaminated with asbestos. The samples are retested in another room where they are found to be free from asbestos.
Hires the services of Georgia based lab
Johnson & Johnson hired the services of a Georgia based lab to conduct the tests. The results are negative and indicate baby powder samples are free from asbestos. However, those results are preliminary. The company used those results and announced that samples do not contain traces of asbestos on October 29, 2019. According to a statement given to WSJ, Johnson & Johnson is continuing the tests on baby powder samples.
Johnson & Johnson said that it is expediting the testing of baby powder samples after FDA raised serious concerns on finding traces of asbestos in samples. The company requested the independent labs to test the samples quickly to understand the facts.
The opioid payout reduced to $465 million
Johnson & Johnson got relief after an Oklahoma judge reduced the opioid payout from the original $572 million to $465 million. The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention said opioids are responsible for killing 400,000 patients because of overdose from 1999 to 2017. According to a ruling of Balkman, Johnson & Johnson is involved in misleading marketing tactics that exaggerated painkiller’s benefits. The addiction to opioids caused nuisance among the public.
