Summary
The family of Henrietta Lacks, a woman whose cells were taken without her permission in 1951, has reached a settlement with the biotech company Novartis. Her cells, known as HeLa cells, have been used for important medical discoveries. The terms of the settlement are confidential.
Key Facts
- Henrietta Lacks' cells were taken in 1951 without her knowledge at Johns Hopkins Hospital.
- The cells, called HeLa, are "immortal" because they continue to grow and don't age.
- HeLa cells have contributed to significant medical advancements, including the polio vaccine.
- Lacks' family had previously settled a lawsuit with Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.
- A lawsuit against Novartis was filed in Maryland, with the recent settlement being undisclosed.
- The family argues that companies have made significant profits from these cells without compensating them.
- Settlements aim to acknowledge and rectify the use of Lacks' cells without consent.
