Last mentioned: Feb 27, 2026
Novartis Settlement
Novartis announces a confidential settlement with the Henrietta Lacks estate.
Novartis Settlement
Novartis resolves its legal dispute with the estate over the commercial use of HeLa cells.
Ultragenyx Settlement
Ultragenyx settles with the estate over HeLa cell usage in gene therapy research.
Thermo Fisher Settlement
A landmark confidential settlement is reached, setting a precedent for the industry.
Thermo Fisher Settlement
Thermo Fisher Scientific reaches a historic settlement with the Lacks family.
First Major Lawsuit
The Lacks estate files suit against Thermo Fisher Scientific on the 70th anniversary of her death.
First Major Lawsuit
The Lacks estate files its first major lawsuit against Thermo Fisher Scientific.
Mass Production
HeLa cells are mass-produced and distributed globally, becoming a cornerstone of modern research.
HeLa Immortality
Researchers discover the cells can reproduce indefinitely, creating the first immortal human cell line.
Cells Harvested
Henrietta Lacks' cervical cancer cells are taken without consent at Johns Hopkins.
Cells Harvested
Henrietta Lacks' cells are harvested without consent during cancer treatment at Johns Hopkins.
Novartis has reached a confidential settlement with the estate of Henrietta Lacks, ending litigation over the unauthorized use of her 'immortal' HeLa cells. This marks the latest in a series of legal victories for the Lacks family against pharmaceutical giants that profited from cells taken without consent in 1951.
Novartis has reached a confidential settlement with the estate of Henrietta Lacks, resolving claims that the pharmaceutical giant unjustly profited from her 'immortal' cell line. This agreement marks a major milestone in the ongoing legal and ethical reckoning over the historical exploitation of Black patients in medical research.