Novartis settles with Henrietta Lacks' estate over use of her cells

Novartis has settled a lawsuit with the estate of Henrietta Lacks over the use of her cells, which were taken without her consent and used for medical advancements. The agreement, finalized in federal court, resolves claims that Novartis unjustly profited from the HeLa cell line, derived from Lacks' cervical cancer cells taken in 1951. Details of the settlement are not public. HeLa cells have been crucial for numerous medical breakthroughs, including vaccines, but the Lacks family received no compensation until recent legal actions. This is the second settlement for the estate, following one with Thermo Fisher Scientific.