Monsey, NY – A businessman says he’s invented an easy and painless way to diagnose oral cancer, but he claims one of the nation’s largest pharmaceutical companies is blocking sale of the product to conceal a possible link between the disease and a popular mouthwash made by the same firm.
Subscribe to our Daily Roundup Email
Mark Rutenberg has filed a lawsuit in federal court in New Jersey, charging that Johnson & Johnson broke an agreement with his Montebello-based company to market a device he created “in order to protect sales of its mouthwash, Listerine, which has been linked to oral cancer,” according to court papers.
The lawsuit, which is seeking more than $150 million in damages, claims that Johnson & Johnson quashed efforts to sell the diagnostic test kit made by the Montebello company, Oral Cancer Prevention International, because the pharmaceutical giant feared word would spread about a study in Australia linking Listerine to rising rates of cancer of the mouth.
“They did not want our product sold,” Rutenberg said.
A Johnson & Johnson spokesman said the company is aware of the complaint that has been filed by the Rockland County firm.
“The company is confident that we have engaged in proper business practices, and we look forward to the opportunity to resolve this matter through the legal system,” a statement released by Johnson & Johnson said.
Researchers have speculated for years about a possible link between mouthwash containing alcohol and oral cancer, which kills 8,000 people annually in the U.S.
A paper published in December 2008 in the Australian Dental Journal reignited the debate.
So one who is careful with his oral hygene ends up with oral cancer??? We are being led by these big companies like sheep to slaughter smiling foolishly all the way with our big white teeth!!
Companies smaller than Johnson and Johnson get their way in the courts.
Lot of luck buddy.
Apparently, Listerine is not the correct antidote to Lashon Harah (a foul mouth).
fight plak now worry about mouth wash whats next tooth paste every thing we touch or eat has poison in it or can POSSIBLY lead to cancer not that this dreaded disease might just be in our system thru other means so as alan king that great philosopher once said eat drink and by merry because if it hits you why worry now
How does mouthwash cause cancer… I thought it cleans away all the bacteria in the mouth?? Hmmm. Should I stop using mouthwash now!
Tom’s of Maine mouthwash does not contain alcohol.
now you all know why my breath always stinks, i’m avoiding cancer.
Chemicals cause cancer. There’s plenty of it in Listerine. There are many healthy alternatives you can find in health food stores and supermarkets: Healthy Dentist, Tom’s, Jason….
What about Adwe?
Let’s not get carried away with this article. If you read between the lines, it doesn’t make sense.
A) if J&J believed it caused cancer I’m sure they would fix the problem. In today’s world, you can’t hide anything. Remember this information has been out for a few years already -enough time for J&J to fix the problem.
B) even with this “test kit” it only tells you IF one has oral cancer not HOW they got it. So why would J&J care????
C) “researchers have speculated for years” – yet they have no conclusive answer if there is a connection. Yet this guy wants to say for sure there is a link and J&J wants to cover it up. People who are trained and paid to study these things can’t come to a definite conclusion, and he can. Convince me
D) “8000 people in USA die from oral cancer every year” a lot of people but a VERY small percentage in the big picture. Its about .00025%. And let’s not forget it doesn’t say anywhere that all these 8000 got oral cancer from listerine. Also it doesn’t say if these people had any other conditions that may have caused it. Once again I’m not saying 8000 people is nothing, but before you jump to conclusions, think it over for a few minuets.
E) this guy knows he’s not getting anything near 150 million. He’s hopping to scare J&J and force them to settle out of court for a few million. He’s just looking to abuse our court system and milk a few dollars from this BIG and GREEDY company. (Its baseless cases like these that drive up the prices of consumer products and it ends up hurting only us)
What a shame.
so I have find something else to make kiddush on?, lol, this is insaine, listerine is the best compaire to sll other companies, I also have crest but its not as good as Listerine