Talc

Overview

Talc is a mineral composed primarily of magnesium, silicon and oxygen. It is a substance often found in cosmetic and personal hygiene products including baby powder, adult body powders and facial powders. Talc helps absorb moisture, freshen materials, and reduce friction to prevent rashes. Although talc has been widely used for decades, lawsuits that have come to the surface claim serious health complications linked to its use. In fact, recent studies have reported that talc increases the risk of ovarian and endometrial cancers by approximately 30 percent.

Indication

Indicated to prevent recurrence of malignant pleural effusions in symptomatic patients during thoracoscopy or open thoracotomy.

Associated Conditions

Diaper Rash
Malignant Pleural Effusion
Skin Irritation

Clinical Trials

Title	Posted	Study ID	Phase	Status	Sponsor
Intrapleural Fibrinolytic Therapy to Enhance Chemical Pleurodesis Enhance Chemical Pleurodesis	2021/03/19	NCT04806373	Phase 4	Completed	Memorial Healthcare System
Randomized Controlled Trial of Talc Instillation In Addition To Daily Drainage Through a Tunneled Pleural Catheter to Improve Rates of Outpatient Pleurodesis in Patients With Malignant Pleural Effusion	2021/03/11	NCT04792970	Phase 4	Terminated	Duke University
Talc Outpatient Pleurodesis With Indwelling Catheter	2019/06/04	NCT03973957	Not Applicable	UNKNOWN	The Cooper Health System
Dry Pleurodesis With Talcum and Afatinib is Used to Treat Patients With Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma	2019/02/01	NCT03827070	Phase 1	Active, not recruiting	Center Trials & Treatment Europe
Efficacy of Iodopovidone Versus Talc in Palliative Malignant Pleural Effusion	2016/02/04	NCT02674243	Phase 3	Completed	Chiang Mai University
Efficacy and Safety of Bevacizumab Versus Pulvis Talci in Malignant Pleural Effusion	2014/02/04	NCT02054078	Phase 2	UNKNOWN	Tang-Du Hospital
Efficacy of Baby Talcum in Prevention of Pruritus Assosiated With Cast	2009/11/20	NCT01017315	Phase 3	UNKNOWN	Prince of Songkla University
Talc in Treating Patients With Malignant Pleural Effusion	2004/08/31	NCT00002622	Phase 3	Completed	Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology

FDA Drug Approvals

Approved Product	Manufacturer	NDC Code	Route	Strength	Effective Date
Steritalc 3g	Novatech SA	62327-333	INTRAPLEURAL	3 g in 10 mL	1/12/2023
Sterile Talc	Bryan Corporation	63256-200	INTRAPLEURAL	5 g in 100 mL	6/5/2014
SENSITIVE POCKET SUN	Shantou Oushiya Biotechnology Co., Ltd	85819-771	PERCUTANEOUS	15 mg in 1 1	6/14/2025
Sclerosol	Bryan Corp	63256-100	INTRAPLEURAL	4 g in 25.0 g	10/18/2012
Steritalc 4g	Novatech SA	62327-444	INTRAPLEURAL	4 g in 50 mL	1/12/2023
Steritalc 2g	Novatech SA	62327-222	INTRAPLEURAL	2 g in 50 mL	1/12/2023

EMA Drug Approvals

Approved Product	Authorization Holder	Status	Issued Date
No EMA approvals found for this drug.

HSA Drug Approvals

Approved Product	Manufacturer	Approval Number	Dosage Form	Strength	Approval Date
No HSA approvals found for this drug.

NMPA Drug Approvals

Approved Product	Company	Approval Number	Drug Type	Dosage Form	Approval Date
No NMPA approvals found for this drug.

PPB Drug Approvals

Approved Product	Registration No.	Company	Licence No.	Strength	Registration Date
No PPB approvals found for this drug.

TGA Drug Approvals

Approved Product	ARTG ID	Sponsor	Registration Type	Status	Registration Date
Z.S.C. Powder dusting powder	20355	Arrotex Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd	Medicine	A	10/14/1991

Health Canada Drug Approvals

Approved Product	Company	DIN	Dosage Form	Strength	Market Date
PROTECTIVE CREAM	bebia pediatric, division of stiefel canada inc.	00885576	Cream - Topical	5.5 %	12/31/1991
FOOT SPRAY WITH POWDER	mueller sports medicine, inc.	00240656	Aerosol - Topical	18 %	12/31/1970
POUDRE DERMATIQUE JENER	produits francais labs inc.	00166227	Powder - Topical	400 MG / G	12/31/1930
FOOT AND BODY POWDER	mueller sports medicine, inc.	00240605	Powder - Topical	90.8 Kg / 91.7 Kg	12/31/1970

CIMA AEMPS Drug Approvals

Approved Product	Company	Registration Number	Pharmaceutical Form	Prescription Type	Status
No CIMA AEMPS (Spain) approvals found for this drug.

Philippines FDA Drug Approvals

Approved Product	Company	License Number	Dosage Form	Strength	Approval Date
No Philippines FDA approvals found for this drug.

Saudi SFDA Drug Approvals

Approved Product	Company	License Number	Dosage Form	Strength	Approval Date
No Saudi SFDA approvals found for this drug.

Malaysia NPRA Drug Approvals

Approved Product	Company	Registration Number	Dosage Form	Strength	Approval Date
No Malaysia NPRA approvals found for this drug.

UK EMC Drug Information

Medicine Name	MA Holder	MA Number	Pharmaceutical Form	Active Ingredient	Authorization Date
No UK EMC drug information found for this drug.

Related News

FDA Convenes Expert Panel to Evaluate Talc Safety in Food and Drugs

2 months ago

The FDA announced on May 16, 2025, that it will host its first independent scientific expert panel to evaluate potential health risks associated with talc in food and pharmaceutical products.

FDA Mandates Standardized Asbestos Testing Protocol for Talc-Based Cosmetics

7 months ago

The FDA has proposed a new rule requiring standardized testing methods for detecting asbestos in talc-containing cosmetic products, implementing requirements from the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act of 2022.

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