"Doctors at Johns Hopkins Hospital took Lacks' cervical cells in 1951 without her knowledge, and the tissue taken from her tumor before she died became the first human cells to continuously grow and reproduce in lab dishes. HeLa cells became a cornerstone of modern medicine, enabling countless scientific and medical innovations, including the development of genetic mapping and even COVID-19 vaccines, but the Lacks family wasn't compensated along the way despite that incalculable impact on science and medicine."
"The 2024 lawsuit had sought from Novartis 'the full amount of its net profits obtained by commercializing the HeLa cell line,' which the complaint said had been cultivated from 'stolen cells.' It's the second settlement in lawsuits filed by the estate that accused biomedical businesses of reaping rewards from a racist medical system that took advantage of Black patients like Lacks."
Novartis has settled a lawsuit filed by Henrietta Lacks' estate alleging the pharmaceutical company unjustly profited from her cells taken without consent in 1951. Lacks' cervical cells, extracted by Johns Hopkins Hospital doctors, became HeLa cells—the first human cells to continuously grow in laboratory conditions. These cells revolutionized medicine, enabling development of vaccines, genetic mapping, and countless medical innovations. Despite their incalculable scientific value, the Lacks family received no compensation as companies patented uses of the cell line and generated substantial profits. This settlement represents the second lawsuit resolution against biomedical companies accused of exploiting Black patients through a racist medical system. The agreement details remain confidential.
#medical-ethics #hela-cells #henrietta-lacks #pharmaceutical-settlements #racial-justice-in-medicine
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