May 15 (Reuters) - Bayer is preparing a plan

to settle some of its mass lawsuits over Roundup weedkiller in

Missouri, and may also seek bankruptcy for its Monsanto unit if

the effort fails, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday,

citing sources.

The German pharmaceutical and biotechnology group has paid

about $10 billion to settle disputed claims that Roundup, based

on the herbicide glyphosate, causes cancer. About 67,000 further

cases are pending for which the group has set aside $5.9 billion

in legal provisions.

Bayer has engaged advisers from law firm Latham & Watkins

and consultancy AlixPartners to examine its options, the Journal

said, adding that a Chapter 11 filing by Monsanto would pause

lawsuits against the division and open a path to settling its

share of Roundup-related liability in bankruptcy court.

Reuters could not immediately confirm the report.

Bayer, Latham & Watkins and AlixPartners did not immediately

respond to Reuters' requests for comment.

Last month, Bayer petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to

restrict claims linking its Roundup weedkiller to cancer, aiming

to avert billions in potential damages. The company said this

week a decision could come as early as next month.

The group acquired Roundup through its $63 billion purchase

of U.S. agrochemical firm Monsanto in 2018.

Bayer has since seen struggles with glyphosate litigations,

a 2023 development setback for its most promising experimental

medicine, weak agriculture markets and pressure from some

investors to separate or sell businesses.