Strides Testosterone Gel Benzene Settlement (2026)

Strides testosterone gel benzene class action settlement

Published: June 17, 2026

Status Claims Open June 18, 2026 Claim form goes live on the official settlement website June 18, 2026

Claim Deadline September 16, 2026

Estimated Payout 40%–100% of out-of-pocket cost Reimbursement set by purchase year · $3.50 minimum per prescription · $750,000 non-reversionary fund

Proof Required Yes Proof of purchase showing the purchaser, date, NDC (64380015102 or 64380015202), and out-of-pocket amount

What Is This Settlement About?

A proposed class action settlement has been reached in Painter v. Strides Pharma, Inc., No. 7:25-CV-4189, pending in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. The lawsuit alleges that testosterone gel manufactured by Strides Pharma, Inc. contained benzene — a chemical classified as a human carcinogen — at levels exceeding the limit the FDA has set for prescription drugs. Plaintiffs contend that because the product allegedly exceeded that limit, it was adulterated, unlawful to sell, and economically worth less than what purchasers paid. In 2025, Strides recalled hundreds of thousands of cartons of its testosterone gel due to the presence of benzene above the FDA's limit.

This case seeks only to recover purchasers' economic loss — the money paid for the gel. It does not seek, and the settlement does not provide, any compensation for personal injury or wrongful death. Joining the settlement does not affect your separate right to bring a personal-injury claim. Strides denies the allegations and the Court has not decided who is right; the settlement is a compromise to avoid the cost and risk of continued litigation.

Who Qualifies?

The Court has defined the Settlement Class as all natural persons in the United States who purchased Strides testosterone gel, for personal or household use, between June 1, 2022, and July 31, 2025 (the "Class Period"). The administrator estimates the class includes roughly 95,000 members.

You do not have to show that your gel came from a lot that was part of the recall. Every consumer who purchased Strides testosterone gel during the Class Period is eligible for compensation based on out-of-pocket payments and the year of purchase.

How Much Can You Get?

Compensation is calculated per prescription, based on your out-of-pocket payment and the year you purchased the gel:

100% reimbursement of out-of-pocket payments for each prescription purchased between January 1, 2025, and July 31, 2025;
75% reimbursement for each prescription purchased between January 1, 2024, and December 31, 2024;
40% reimbursement for each prescription purchased between June 1, 2022, and December 31, 2023; and
A minimum baseline of $3.50 per prescription (modified by the percentages above based on purchase date) where your out-of-pocket payments were less than $3.50.

Strides has agreed to a non-reversionary payment of $750,000, meaning at least that full amount will be distributed. If the total of all valid claims comes in below $750,000, the difference is distributed pro rata to claiming Class Members based on the value of their claims, to the extent the Court permits — so it is possible, though not guaranteed, to recover more than the percentages above. Settlement administration costs, attorneys' fees, and any service awards are paid by Strides separately and do not reduce what Class Members can recover.

Proof of Purchase Is Required

This is a proof-required settlement. To receive payment, you must submit documentation sufficient to establish: (1) who made the purchase, (2) the date of purchase, (3) an NDC number (64380015102 or 64380015202) or other manufacturer identification showing the product was Strides testosterone gel, and (4) the out-of-pocket amount paid, if any. Acceptable documentation includes a download or printout from your pharmacy, insurance company, or pharmacy benefit manager, or the original or a copy of your purchase receipt. If you had no out-of-pocket cost, you can still recover the $3.50 minimum baseline (as modified by the percentages above).

How to File a Claim

The claims period begins June 18, 2026. As of June 17, 2026, the official settlement website does not yet have a live "Submit a Claim" button — the online Claim Submission Form and a downloadable paper form are expected to go live on June 18. See our news update, Strides testosterone gel settlement claim form opens June 18, 2026, for details. Once the form is available, you can complete and submit it online through the official settlement website, or download the forms and mail them in. Online claims must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Eastern on September 16, 2026; mailed claims must be postmarked no later than September 16, 2026. Your supporting documentation must be submitted with your claim. If you need a paper claim form or have questions about your claim, use the contact options on the official settlement website.

Key Deadlines

Claim deadline: September 16, 2026
Exclusion (opt-out) deadline: August 17, 2026
Objection deadline: August 17, 2026
Fairness Hearing: November 19, 2026 at 2:00 p.m.

Excluding yourself keeps your right to sue Strides on your own for economic loss but means you get no payment. If you do nothing, you remain a Class Member, give up those economic-loss claims, but receive no money unless you file a claim. Payments are made only after the Court grants final approval and any appeals are resolved.

Related Settlements

If you are tracking contaminated- or adulterated-drug recovery cases, see our coverage of the Vivimed losartan contaminated blood-pressure drug settlement and the dry shampoo benzene class action settlement, both of which involve economic-loss claims over products alleged to contain or be contaminated by a harmful substance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who qualifies for the Strides testosterone gel settlement?

Anyone in the United States who purchased Strides testosterone gel for personal or household use between June 1, 2022, and July 31, 2025, qualifies as a Class Member. You do not need to show the product came from a recalled lot.

How much money can I get?

Reimbursement is based on your out-of-pocket payment and the year of purchase: 100% for prescriptions bought January 1, 2025 – July 31, 2025; 75% for 2024 purchases; and 40% for purchases between June 1, 2022, and December 31, 2023. A minimum baseline of $3.50 per prescription applies (modified by those percentages) where out-of-pocket payments were under $3.50. Because the $750,000 fund is non-reversionary, claimants may receive more pro rata if total claims fall short.

Do I need proof of purchase?

Yes. You must submit documentation establishing the purchaser, the purchase date, an NDC or manufacturer identification showing the product was Strides testosterone gel (NDC 64380015102 or 64380015202), and the out-of-pocket amount paid. Acceptable proof includes a pharmacy, insurer, or pharmacy-benefit-manager printout, or the original or a copy of the purchase receipt.

What is the deadline to file a claim?

Claims must be submitted online by 11:59 p.m. Eastern on September 16, 2026, or mailed with a postmark no later than September 16, 2026. The deadline to exclude yourself or object is August 17, 2026.

When will payments be made?

Payments will be made only after the Court grants final approval and any appeals are resolved. A Fairness Hearing is scheduled for November 19, 2026. Timelines can shift if there are appeals.