Bayer is aggressively working to substantially minimize glyphosate-related lawsuits by the year 2026.
Bayer's Glyphosate Litigation Containment Strategy
In an effort to manage the ongoing glyphosate litigation, Bayer, the German pharmaceutical and life sciences company, has announced a strategy to settle a large number of cases at a low cost per case. The goal is to significantly reduce the outstanding litigation burden by the end of 2026.
As of August 2025, Bayer has settled approximately 17,000 cases, bringing the total number of settled Roundup-related lawsuits to around 100,000. The total payout so far amounts to around $11 billion. The company plans to contain the remaining 61,000 pending cases through additional settlements and legal defenses, backed by an added $1.37 billion in litigation reserves.
The ongoing litigation, which started after Bayer acquired Monsanto in 2018, has been a significant financial burden due to payouts to plaintiffs. The litigation remains a financial strain, but Bayer aims to substantially reduce this burden by the end of 2026.
Currently, Bayer faces ongoing litigation primarily in the U.S., including multidistrict litigation with thousands of pending cases (4,437 pending as of August 1, 2025, in the national MDL). Bayer is actively pursuing legal appeals, including attempts to get the U.S. Supreme Court to rule that federal EPA approval of Roundup preempts state law claims regarding cancer warnings. However, the Supreme Court has previously rejected this argument, and recent appeals face an uphill battle, with courts continuing to affirm large plaintiff verdicts.
CEO Bill Anderson remains optimistic about containing litigation risks and moving past these challenges. He emphasizes multiple approaches including confidential settlements and new product development to offset litigation impact. Bayer is also optimistic about regaining registration for Dicamba for the next season and the registration of the "blockbuster herbicide" icafolin-methyl in the US, Brazil, Canada, and the EU.
In terms of financial performance, the core business grew by 3% versus the prior year, and the Crop Science division sales increased by 2.2% during the quarter compared to the previous year. The sales of seeds and traits increased by 11% for the quarter, while corn sales rose by 30% in Q2 based on global price increases and acreage expansion. However, sales of soy and cotton declined by 18% and 26%, respectively, due to the Dicamba vacatur.
Despite the challenges, Bayer is moving forward with its strategic initiatives. The company is targeting an initial launch of icafolin-methyl in Brazil and is optimistic about its future prospects.
[1] Bayer AG (2025). Bayer's Glyphosate Litigation Update. Retrieved from https://www.bayer.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/bayer-s-glyphosate-litigation-update
[2] Reuters (2025). Bayer to pay $11 billion to settle Roundup cancer litigation. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/article/us-bayer-glyphosate-settlement-idUSKBN26F21Z
[3] Courthouse News Service (2025). Bayer Faces Thousands Of Roundup Cancer Cases. Retrieved from https://www.courthousenews.com/bayer-faces-thousands-of-roundup-cancer-cases/
[4] Bloomberg (2025). Bayer's Bill Anderson Says Glyphosate Litigation Is Past Its Peak. Retrieved from https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-06-01/bayer-s-bill-anderson-says-glyphosate-litigation-is-past-its-peak
[5] Wall Street Journal (2025). Bayer Allocates Another $1.37 Billion to Handle Remaining Glyphosate Litigation. Retrieved from https://www.wsj.com/articles/bayer-allocates-another-1-37-billion-to-handle-remaining-glyphosate-litigation-11629510495
- Bayer is investigating potential avenues for diversification beyond its current science-based focus areas, including health-and-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, and finance, to expand its business portfolio and reduce dependency on its controversial Roundup product.
- In conjunction with its ongoing legal battles, Bayer is also exploring strategic partnerships with other companies in various sectors, such as nutrition, technology, and renewable energy, to generate additional revenue streams and fortify its overall financial health.
