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Bayer Pays Out $1.4 Billion in Yaz Lawsuit Settlements
By Amanda Antell
Bayer Pharmaceuticals has spent $1.4 billion to settle lawsuits concerning blood clot injuries caused by its birth control products Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella. In one of the most recent lawsuits against the company, plaintiff Maggie Yunker said she was taking a different birth control but switched to Yaz due to the promise of clearing up her acne and easing some menstrual cycle symptoms.
A year later, Yunker developed multiple Yaz blood clots, which nearly caused her to suffer a stroke, according to the lawsuit. Yunker is now suing Bayer, saying she relied on misleading advertisements that stated Yaz was more reliable and efficient than other birth control pills, and provided the extra benefits of acne and menstrual pain relief. Bayer settled with Yunker, awarding her $237,000.
As of July 2013, Bayer has settled Yaz lawsuits with 6,760 plaintiffs in the United States, for a total of $1.4 billion dollars. Despite the number of Yaz lawsuits against the company and the fact that the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has repeatedly cited the company for false advertising, Bayer has admitted no wrongdoing in agreeing to the Yaz lawsuit settlements.
Many critics of Yaz state that the primary risks come from the main ingredient of the drug, called drospirenone, arguing that the true nature of the progestogen is still unknown. They believe that patients should not be exposed to the hormone until further scientific studies are conducted to observe how the hormone interacts with the human body. While not much is known about drospirenone, it has concerned the FDA enough that it added an update to the Yaz label last year, warning that drospirenone may be associated with Yaz blood clots.Â
Some women’s health advocate organizations are petitioning for a stronger black-box warning which would be a more apparent warning than a simple descriptive label. Because oral contraceptives are the most popular form of birth control in the United States, the advocates argue that Yaz needs appropriate labeling to warn patients of the drug’s dangers. Furthermore, because most oral contraceptives cause acne and bloating, it is completely irresponsible of Bayer to falsely state that Yaz does not include those side effects. Bayer is being sued by women across the country, alleging negligence, false advertising, and concealing information.
History of Yaz Litigation
Yaz was first approved by the FDA in 2006 to act as an efficient contraceptive to women across the United States. While it was first regarded as one of the most effective oral contraceptives in the country when it came out, it was the best-selling birth control pill in the United States in 2008, and totaled sales of $781 million in 2009.Â
In 2008, Yaz took its first credibility hit when the FDA warned Bayer that its advertising was misleading regarding the benefits provided by the oral contraceptives. Due to the FDA’s criticism and the studies released on the contraceptive, Yaz sales plummeted by 60 percent in 2010.
As of July 2013, there were about 5,400 impending claims against Bayer. The company has been settling claims for blood clot injuries and other Yaz complications.
Obtain a Free Yaz Lawsuit Evaluation
If you believe that you or a loved one have been the victim of a Yaz blood clot injury, you have legal options. Please visit the Yaz/Yasmin, Beyaz & Ocella Birth Control Pill Class Action Lawsuit Settlement & Investigation. There, you can submit your claim for a free legal review and if it qualifies for legal action, a seasoned Yaz lawyer will contact you for a free, no-obligation consultation. You will be guided through the litigation process at no out-of-pocket expenses or hidden fees. The Yaz blood clot attorneys working this investigation do not get paid until you do.
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All medical device, dangerous drug and medical class action and lawsuit news updates are listed in the Drug and Medical Device section of Top Class Actions.
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One thought on Bayer Pays Out $1.4 Billion in Yaz Lawsuit Settlements
My name is Candace I live in North Carolina and wondering if you can help me?I recently was in the heart and vascular ICU at hospital with a full blood clot in left leg my abdomen vena cava and lungs my heart was enlarged and over working pumping the clots threw I had multiple surgerys and atill have another to come for permanent stents in my main vein in abdomen all this was caused from yaz birth control can you help me