health
February 27, 2026
Novartis settles with woman's estate over use of her "stolen" cells to advance medicine
Novartis has settled a lawsuit by the estate of Henrietta Lacks that alleged the pharmaceutical giant unjustly profited off her cells, which were taken from her tumor without her knowledge in 1951 and reproduced in labs to enable major medical advances, including the polio vaccine.
TL;DR
- Novartis has settled a lawsuit with the estate of Henrietta Lacks.
- The lawsuit alleged that Novartis unjustly profited from Henrietta Lacks' cells.
- Her cells were taken from a tumor in 1951 without her knowledge.
- These cells were reproduced in labs and enabled major medical advances.
- Medical advances attributed to her cells include the polio vaccine.
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