Block Drug Company & Asbestos Exposure
Block Drug Company once sold products that allegedly contained asbestos-contaminated talc. Employees and consumers who made or used these products were put at risk of exposure, which may cause mesothelioma. Because of its ties to asbestos, Block Drug has appeared in mesothelioma lawsuits.
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Asbestos Exposure at Block Drug Company
Block Drug Company may have exposed its employees and consumers to asbestos through contaminated talc. As workers processed the talc, they may have inhaled or ingested asbestos fibers. Consumers may have been exposed from using the company’s talc products. Block Drug’s most well-known brand affected by contaminated talc was Gold Bond Medicated Powder. The company owned the rights to this brand between 1987 and 1990.
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Block Drug began as a drugstore in Brooklyn, New York, in 1907. It soon pivoted to drug manufacturing with an emphasis on dental health products.
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Block Drug has been named in mesothelioma lawsuits along with other talc companies, like Johnson & Johnson.
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GlaxoSmithKline acquired Block Drug Company in 2001 for $1.24 billion and integrated it into its consumer healthcare business. This action ended the company’s independent operations.
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Block Drug owned the rights to the Gold Bond brand for several years. Through a series of acquisitions, Sanofi-Aventis acquired the Gold Bond brand in 2010. The company began phasing talc out of its products in 2020.
Gold Bond has been named in multiple asbestos lawsuits. People have claimed that product use led them to developing mesothelioma. In at least one case, a jury found Gold Bond and other talc product manufacturers liable in a mesothelioma lawsuit claiming asbestos exposure.
Even though Block Drug no longer exists as a separate company, people who suspect they were exposed to asbestos through Block Drug products may still have legal options. You can speak with an asbestos attorney to learn about your legal rights.
High-Risk Occupations at Block Drug Company
Consumers may have been exposed to asbestos through Block Drug talc products. These same products were also owned and sold by different manufacturers at other times. Workers may have experienced exposure from mining, manufacturing, packaging and other activities. At-risk occupations include:
- Athletes
- Babysitters
- Certified nurse assistants
- Childcare workers
- Elder care workers
- Excavators
- Factory workers
- Home health aides
- Hospice providers
- Miners
- Nurses
- Powder manufacturers
Family members of anyone who handled these products may also face secondary asbestos exposure risks. This type of exposure happens when someone handles the worker’s contaminated clothing that carries talc dust. Anyone exposed to asbestos is at risk of developing mesothelioma or other diseases.
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Asbestos Products Manufactured at Block Drug Company
Lawsuits involving Block Drug have most often cited Gold Bond powder products, with one case tracing alleged exposure back to approximately 1973. With the Gold Bond powder products, Block Drug also acquired two other brands. Both the Keep It In Your Sneaker and Decub-U-Care product lines used talc and may have also posed a risk of exposure. A mesothelioma attorney can help identify potential sources of exposure.
Have A Question About Asbestos Exposure and Block Drug Company? Ask experienced mesothelioma advocate Jennifer Lucarelli Ask a QuestionCompensation for Block Drug Company Workers & Consumers With Mesothelioma
Block Drug employees and consumers who develop mesothelioma after asbestos exposure may have legal options. They may qualify to file asbestos lawsuits or other claims. Any compensation awarded from these claims can help cover medical bills, lost wages and other costs.
If you or a family member has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, an experienced asbestos lawyer can help you understand your options. Attorneys at mesothelioma law firms will handle the entire legal process, making the process as easy as possible for you.
Asbestos Lawsuits
Block Drug has been named in lawsuits claiming that asbestos exposure from its products caused mesothelioma. These cases often include several companies, such as consumer goods manufacturers, mining businesses and talc processing facilities.
Lawsuits naming Block Drug have specifically cited Gold Bond Medicated Powder as a source of alleged asbestos exposure. Notable lawsuits involving Block Drug include:
- 2025: A man and woman filed a lawsuit in Illinois claiming the woman developed mesothelioma after using talc products. Block Drug was listed among the companies believed responsible. The case was moved to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois.
- 2024: Attorneys filed a lawsuit in Maryland on behalf of a woman who developed malignant mesothelioma. She claimed her cancer was caused by using products with contaminated talc from 1971 to 2024, the year she was diagnosed.
- 2022: A woman and her husband filed a lawsuit in South Carolina against multiple cosmetic companies after the woman developed mesothelioma. The complaint noted she used talc-based products from birth in 1986 to 2021. The court awarded her $29.14 million.
Publicly available records do not clearly show whether Block Drug remained a defendant through trial, settled, was dismissed or was otherwise removed from these cases.
Common Questions About Asbestos Exposure at Block Drug Company
When did people start worrying about asbestos in talc?
What other talc-containing products did Block Drug Company make?
Can I file a lawsuit if I developed mesothelioma after using Block Drug Company products?
What health risks are associated with Block Drug Company asbestos exposure?
Sources
LexisNexis - Stephen Anderson, et al. v. BorgWarner Morse Tec Inc., et al; 2/5/2026
Circuit Court for Baltimore City - CHERIE CRAFT V. AHOLD DELHAIZE USA, INC. CASE NO. 24-X-24-000005; 12/22/2025
business.cch.com - SARAH J. PLANT and PARKER PLANT Plaintiffs, v. AVON PRODUCTS, INC. et al; 4/11/2022
Encyclopedia.com - Block Drug Company, Inc.; 5/18/2018
Financial Assistance for Mesothelioma Patients
Tara Strand specializes in writing content about mesothelioma and asbestos. She focuses on topics like mesothelioma awareness, research, treatment, asbestos trust funds and other advocacy efforts.
For more than two decades, Jennifer Lucarelli has served as Legal Advisor at Mesothelioma.com. She has advocated for more than 1,000 asbestos victims, securing millions in settlements and helping them access quality medical care.