Henrietta Lacks' Family Reaches Settlement in Cell Lawsuit

The family of Henrietta Lacks, whose cancer cells were taken without consent and used for medical research, has reached a confidential settlement with Thermo Fisher Scientific, the biotechnology company that profited from the cells. The family had accused the company of selling the cells and attempting to secure intellectual property rights without compensating them or seeking permission. Henrietta Lacks's cells, known as HeLa cells, have been instrumental in numerous medical advancements, including the development of vaccines for polio and COVID-19. The terms of the settlement were not disclosed, but the family expressed relief and suggested that similar lawsuits may follow.