Bayer-made Birth Control Yaz Has Cost The Company Billions

Yasmin is a prescription-only birth control medication that prevents ovulation while increasing the difficulty for sperm to reach the uterus and fertilize an egg by changing a woman’s cervical and uterine lining.

This type of birth control is said to be 92% to 99.7% effective. The medication is in pill form and should be taken once by mouth at the same time every day. Failing to adhere to a strict dosage schedule could increase the failure rate.

History of Yaz

Yasmin birth control was created by Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, and first approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2001. Yaz, a different but similar drug (Yasmin has a slightly higher ethynyl estradiol than Yaz), was approved in 2006.

In 2009, a medical journal published two studies showing that the main ingredient in Yasmin and Yaz, drospirenone, puts women at risk for developing serious blood clots. 40 cases of severe blood clots were cited. Between 2004 and 2008, more than 50 deaths linked to Yasmin Yaz were reported to the FDA.

Complications of Yaz

Common complications associated with Yasmin and Yaz Birth Control include:

• Heart attack
• Stroke
• Blood clots
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
• Pulmonary embolism
• Gallbladder disease
• Kidney stones

The FDA asked an advisory committee to look into Yasmin and Yaz as a result of the numerous reports on the side effects that were impacting consumers. A warning label was placed on Yaz, without the approval of the committee, which warned that users were more likely to develop blood clots as a result of using the medication. The committee was outraged but largely due to the fact that it was comprised of four members that had a financial interest in Bayer.

Litigation 

Since 2012, over 11,000 plaintiffs have filed lawsuits against Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals for injuries caused by their birth control medication. Plaintiffs have claimed that the medication has caused an increase

Within just a few months of initial filings, Bayer had settled almost 1,900 cases alleging that its Yasmin and Yaz medications caused blood clots that can lead to heart attacks and strokes. On average, Bayer was paying an estimated $212,000 per case and over $402 million in total settlement amounts.

By July of 2015, Bayer had agreed to settlements in amounts close to $2 billion to resolve over 10,000 cases relating to gallbladder injuries. More recently, pending lawsuits have been consolidated into a Federal Multi-District Litigation (MDL) court in Illinois.

Representation for Yaz 

Medical malpractice can have devastating effects that last a lifetime. If you have been injured by a physician’s neglect, attorneys Charles Gilman and Briggs Bedigian will work to get you the full compensation to which you are entitled. Call 800-529-6162 today or contact them online for a free case evaluation. They handle cases in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C.