Drugmaker Settles with Henrietta Lacks' Estate Over Use of Her 'Stolen' Cells

Novartis reaches agreement with family over profits from Lacks' immortal cell line that advanced medicine

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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Novartis, one of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies, has settled a lawsuit with the estate of Henrietta Lacks over the use of her cells, which were taken from her tumor without her knowledge in 1951 and became the first human cells to continuously grow and reproduce in lab dishes. The details of the agreement are not public, but it ends litigation between Novartis and the Lacks family, who alleged the company unjustly profited off her 'stolen' cells that enabled major medical advancements.

Why it matters

Lacks' story highlights the long history of medical exploitation of Black patients, as her cells were taken and commercialized without her consent, while her family struggled with chronic illnesses and lacked health insurance. The settlement is the second reached by the Lacks estate, which has accused biomedical companies of reaping rewards from a racist medical system that took advantage of patients like Lacks.

The details

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.

  • Lacks' cells were taken from her tumor in 1951.
  • The 2024 lawsuit by the Lacks estate against Novartis sought the company's net profits from commercializing the HeLa cell line.
  • The settlement between Novartis and the Lacks estate was finalized in federal court in Maryland in February 2026.

The players

Henrietta Lacks

A poor tobacco farmer from southern Virginia who married and moved with her husband to Turner Station, a historically Black community outside Baltimore. Her cervical cancer cells were taken without her knowledge in 1951 and became the first immortalized human cell line, enabling countless medical advancements.

Novartis

A Swiss-based pharmaceutical giant that was sued by the Lacks estate for unjustly profiting off Henrietta Lacks' 'stolen' cells.

Rebecca Skloot

The author of the bestselling book 'The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks,' which documented Lacks' story and the impact on her family.

Oprah Winfrey

Portrayed Henrietta Lacks' daughter in the HBO film adaptation of 'The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.'

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

What’s next

The details of the settlement agreement between Novartis and the Lacks estate are not public, but the resolution of this case could pave the way for additional lawsuits by the Lacks family against other companies that have profited from Henrietta Lacks' 'stolen' cells.

The takeaway

Henrietta Lacks' story is a tragic example of the medical exploitation of Black patients, with her cells being taken and commercialized without her consent, while her family struggled with chronic illnesses and lacked health insurance. The settlements reached by the Lacks estate highlight the growing recognition of this history and the need for greater accountability and equitable compensation for the communities whose contributions have advanced modern medicine.