Bayer says now targeted in 18,400 glyphosate cases in US

German pharmaceutical giant Bayer said on Tuesday that it is now targeted in some 18,400 U.S. court cases involving glyphosate, a key herbicidal ingredient that complainants say has caused serious diseases such as cancer.

"As of July 11, 2019, lawsuits by approximately 18,400 plaintiffs had been filed in the United States for the plant protection product glyphosate," Bayer said in a news release.

In April, the number of cases was 13,400.

The wave of lawsuits has hit Bayer since it bought US seed and pesticide manufacturer Monsanto last year for $63 billion, one of the largest foreign mergers ever made by a German company.

In the first cases heard, lower court juries ruled in favour of the plaintiffs, acknowledging that non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of blood cancer was caused by glyphosate-containing products, including Monsanto's flagship herbicide, Roundup.

In post-trial reviews of verdicts, judges refrained from overturning jurors' decisions while reducing the amount of damages awarded.

Last week, a spectacular $2 billion payment was reduced to $87 million for California couple Alva and Alberta Pilliod.

The bosses are confident that the weight of scientific evidence is on their side and that they can prevail before the American courts of appeal, which do not have a jury.

Bayer "continues to believe that it has meritorious defences and intends to defend itself vigorously," he said.

In the group's second quarter results, also published on Tuesday, Bayer announced that its net income fell 49.1% year-on-year to €404 million ($450 million).

Operating profit, or underlying profit before exceptional items, increased by 4.5% to €1.8 billion, while revenues increased by 21.1% to €11.5 billion.

Among its three main divisions, the agrochemicals unit was severely affected by floods in the United States, drought in Europe and Canada and global trade conflicts.

In addition, the pharmaceutical division recorded growth in sales based on successful drugs such as Eylea, an eye medication, and Xarelto, an anticoagulant.

In addition, the OTC unit also increased sales as demand and prices for private label products such as aspirin increased.

For the full year, Bayer maintained its revenue forecast of €46 billion, up about 4% compared to 2018, with operating income before exceptional items of around €12.2 billion.

"However, this perspective is becoming more and more ambitious given the difficult environment" for its agrochemical activity, the group said.