Novartis has settled a lawsuit brought by the estate of Henrietta Lacks, resolving allegations that the pharmaceutical company unjustly profited from the utilize of her cells, taken without her knowledge in 1951. The settlement, finalized this month in federal court in Maryland, concludes a legal battle centered on the HeLa cell line – derived from Lacks’ cervical cancer cells – and its widespread commercialization.
Details of the financial agreement remain confidential. Though, the Lacks family and Novartis released a joint statement indicating their satisfaction with reaching a resolution outside of court. “They are pleased they were able to locate a way to resolve this matter filed by Henrietta Lacks’ Estate outside of court,” the statement read, with both parties declining further comment.
This marks the second settlement reached by the Lacks estate in lawsuits accusing biomedical companies of exploiting her cells without consent or compensation. In 2023, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. Reached an undisclosed settlement with the estate, which had argued the company continued to profit from the HeLa cell line even after the origins and ethical concerns surrounding its acquisition became widely known. Lawyers for the Lacks family contended that Thermo Fisher unjustly enriched itself through the commercialization of Lacks’ cells.
The lawsuit against Novartis, filed in 2024, specifically sought “the full amount of its net profits obtained by commercializing the HeLa cell line,” alleging the cells were “stolen.” Henrietta Lacks, a Black woman and mother of five, was undergoing treatment for cervical cancer at Johns Hopkins Hospital when a sample of her cells was taken during a biopsy. Unlike typical cell samples, Lacks’ cells proved to be “immortal,” capable of continuous growth and reproduction in a laboratory setting.
HeLa cells quickly became a cornerstone of modern medical research, contributing to breakthroughs including the development of the polio vaccine, genetic mapping, and, more recently, COVID-19 vaccines. While Johns Hopkins Hospital has stated it never sold or profited from the cell line itself, numerous companies have patented methods and technologies utilizing HeLa cells, generating substantial revenue.
Despite the profound impact of HeLa cells on scientific advancement, the Lacks family historically received no financial benefit from their use. The story of Henrietta Lacks and her cells gained wider public attention with the publication of Rebecca Skloot’s 2010 book, “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks,” and a subsequent HBO film adaptation featuring Oprah Winfrey as Lacks’ daughter, Deborah.
Legal battles involving the Lacks estate are ongoing. Lawsuits against Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical and Viatris remain active in Baltimore federal court, the same venue as the settled cases with Thermo Fisher and Novartis. Attorneys representing the Lacks family have indicated the possibility of filing additional complaints in the future.
