Monsanto faces rising number of lawsuits over weedkiller cancer claims

Werner Baumann, the chief executive of Bayer, which acquired Monsanto earlier this year, confirmed the rise in plaintiffs, up from 5,200.

“The number of plaintiffs in both state and federal litigation is approximately 8,000 as of end-July. These numbers may rise or fall over time but our view is that the number is not indicative of the merits of the plaintiffs’ cases,” he told analysts in a conference call.

Bayer shares have plunged more than 10 per cent since Monsanto was ordered this year to pay $289m in damages to one man in what is thought to be the first of potentially thousands of payouts.

Mr Baumann said the jury’s verdict was inconsistent with the science and that demand for glyphosate products was still strong.

Asked if Bayer would consider settling, he said: “We will vigorously defend this case and all upcoming cases.”

Earlier this month a court has found that Monsanto’s weedkiller had given a former school groundskeeper cancer.