Bayer is making strenuous efforts to substantially reduce the glyphosate-related lawsuitsby the year 2026's end.
In a bid to significantly reduce the ongoing glyphosate litigation, pharmaceutical and life sciences company Bayer has announced a multipronged strategy. The company aims to achieve this goal by the end of 2026, without solely relying on the outcome of the Supreme Court's ruling on a glyphosate case.
During the company's second-quarter 2025 earnings call, CEO Bill Anderson revealed the plan. Bayer intends to allocate substantial financial reserves, with an additional $1.37 billion recently added, totaling over $10 billion, to cover the approximately 61,000 glyphosate cases that remain pending.
The strategy also includes a strong scientific defense asserting the safety and non-carcinogenicity of glyphosate, relying on the EPA's approval, and supporting federal and state legislation to reinforce the EPA’s authority over pesticide labeling and registrations. This move is aimed at mitigating future liability risks.
For PCBs litigation, Bayer continues to record large litigation provisions, such as €1.89 billion in Q2 2025, as part of managing legacy liabilities and indemnification strategies for long-term resilience.
Regarding the Supreme Court ruling on the glyphosate case, the company expects a decision by summer 2026. This follows the Court’s request for input from the U.S. Solicitor General about whether to hear an appeal related to a $1.25 million verdict in a Missouri state court. Bayer hopes the ruling will support its argument that EPA-approved labels preclude state failure-to-warn lawsuits.
Bayer is also making progress in other areas. The company is targeting an initial launch of the herbicide icafolin-methyl in Brazil. Additionally, Bayer faces significant litigation around polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), but the company is optimistic about regaining registration for Dicamba for the next season.
The litigation, which has been ongoing since Bayer acquired Monsanto in 2018, has been a financial burden due to payouts to plaintiffs. However, Bayer has managed to settle 17,000 cases at a low cost per case, taking thousands of cases off the table through confidential settlements.
The EPA has not identified any human health or dietary risks of concern with the approval of Dicamba, and the agency has proposed a decision to approve registration for new uses of Dicamba in 2025.
References: [1] Bayer Newsroom. (2025). Bayer Announces Second-Quarter 2025 Results. Retrieved from https://www.bayer.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/bayer-announces-second-quarter-2025-results
[3] Bayer Newsroom. (2025). Bayer Reports Second-Quarter 2025 Results. Retrieved from https://www.bayer.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/bayer-reports-second-quarter-2025-results
[4] Reuters. (2025). Bayer to spend billions more on glyphosate litigation, targets 2026 reduction. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/bayer-spend-billions-more-glyphosate-litigation-targets-2026-reduction-2025-07-28/
The strategic financial reserves set aside by Bayer for glyphosate cases, amounting to over $10 billion, underscores their commitment in the area of finance and business. The company is also bolstering its environmental-science credentials through a strong scientific defense asserting the safety of glyphosate, aligning with the EPA's approval and advocating for favorable legislation.
