FRANKFURT, Jan 29 Reuters Shares in Bayer dropped as much as 5.7 on Monday after the embattled German company was ordered to pay 2.25 billion in damages, the highest amount yet in its ongoing litigation linked to an alleged carcinogenic effect of its Roundup weedkiller.

A jury in a Philadelphia court on Friday ordered Bayer to pay 2.25 billion to a Pennsylvania man who said he developed cancer from exposure to the Roundup weedkiller, based on the chemical glyphosate.

Shortly after the 0800 GMT open, Bayer shares fell 5.7 to their lowest in about eight weeks, before trimming the losses to last trade down 4.6. They have lost 70 of their value since the company bought Monsanto in 2018.

The total amount includes 2 billion in punitive damages, which are likely to be reduced on appeal because they exceed U.S. Supreme Court guidance, but the verdict poses an added headache for CEO Bill Anderson, who is cutting management jobs in a bid to speed up how business decisions are made.

Anderson is also in the process of reviewing the group39;s diversified structure, which is unpopular with many investors, but will likely hold off presenting breakup plans at an investor update scheduled for early March, people familiar with the matter have told Reuters.

Bayer, which is burdened by financial debt and lack of free cash flow, said it remains committed to taking cases to trial, citing a record of having won 10 of the last 16 cases at trial.

In 2020, Bayer settled most of the Roundup…