Full Breakdown
Abbott Laboratories Settles $670 Million Over Preterm Infant Formula Lawsuits
8/21/2026, 8:45:24 PM
Settlement Overview
On August 20, Abbott Laboratories announced a $670 million (? S$851.6 million) settlement with three law firms covering roughly 2,000 claims that its specialty formulas for preterm infants caused necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). The agreement also resolves the Gill case, in which a St. Louis jury awarded $495 million in 2024; that judgment was upheld by a Missouri appeals court in May 2026. Abbott did not admit liability and reiterated confidence in the safety of its products.
Background & Context
NEC is a severe inflammatory bowel disease that primarily affects premature newborns and carries an estimated mortality rate of more than 20 percent. Clinicians have long recognized that breast milk protects against NEC, while regulatory agencies state that current evidence does not link infant formula to the disease. Litigation intensified after the 2024 jury verdict that linked Abbott’s Similac Special Care 24 formula to NEC in an Illinois infant. Parallel claims have been filed against Mead Johnson (a Reckitt Benckiser unit) for its Enfamil Premature 24 product.
Data & Statistics
- Settlement amount: $670 million (? S$851.6 million).
- Plaintiffs covered: ? 2,000 individuals, including the Gill family.
- Gill verdict: $495 million; with accrued interest the liability would have approached $600 million.
- Pending lawsuits: ? 1,700 cases representing ? 12,700 infants; many are duplicate filings or involve unclear attribution between Abbott and Mead Johnson.
- Court consolidation: > 800 federal cases centralized in Chicago; additional cases remain in state courts in Illinois, Missouri and Pennsylvania.
Official Statements & Responses
Executives also referenced the positions of the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which maintain that the formulas lack a reliable scientific link to NEC.
Criticism & Opposition
The Gill family alleges that their daughter suffered severe, irreversible brain damage after receiving the formula. No direct rebuttal from the cited health agencies was provided beyond their general safety stance.
On-the-Ground Reports
Families such as the Gills describe devastating outcomes: Robynn Gill, the infant at the center of the landmark case, developed NEC after being fed Similac Special Care 24 and subsequently suffered lasting brain injury.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Trial outcomes have been mixed, with some juries siding with manufacturers and others with plaintiffs. The sources do not specify how many cases have been decided in each direction, nor do they present a definitive scientific consensus linking the formulas to NEC. The exact number of duplicate or ambiguous claims remains unclear.
Verbatim Quotes
- “These agreements are a compromise of disputed claims and not in any way an admission of liability. Abbott stands by the safety of these products and the essential role they play in helping the medical community care for pre-term infants.” — Abbott
What’s Next
Abbott indicated it will continue to identify and eliminate duplicate or ambiguous claims, but no specific future court dates or regulatory actions were disclosed.
