He provided the first convincing evidence that cancerous tumors develop from a single mutated cell and later helped expose contamination by cells taken from Henrietta Lacks.

The family of Henrietta Lacks has reached a settlement with pharmaceutical company Novartis regarding the unauthorized use of her cells, which were taken without her consent in 1951.

Novartis And Henrietta Lacks’ Family Reach A Settlement  Forbes

Novartis has settled a lawsuit by the estate of Henrietta Lacks that alleged the pharmaceutical giant unjustly profited off her cells, which were taken from her tumor without her knowledge in 1951 and reproduced in labs to enable major medical advancements, including the polio vaccine

Novartis is the second drug company to settle a lawsuit brought by the family of a woman whose cells have enabled huge advances in science.

Novartis has settled a lawsuit by the estate of Henrietta Lacks that alleged the pharmaceutical giant unjustly profited off her cells, which were taken from her tumor without her knowledge in 1951 and reproduced in labs to enable major medical advancements, including the polio vaccine