Update on Yaz/Yasmin Litigation

Drug giant Bayer Pharmaceuticals has announced that of over 12,000 cases alleging that its popular birth control pills Yaz and Yasmin caused blood clots and related problems, it has settled 6,700 of them for $1.4 billion.  The drug giant’s settlement stopped short of actually admitting responsibility for the fact that the pills caused deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.

Almost 5,500 cases still remain to be settled.

Earlier this year Bayer also reached a settlement in cases alleging that Yaz and Yasmin caused gallbladder injuries, including gallbladder disease, necessitating removal of the gallbladder.  Almost 9,000 women alleged a gallbladder injury, and Bayer paid $2000 to women who suffered gallbladder injury, and $3000 to women who had to have their gallbladders removed.

Bayer has faced a slew of allegations over the years that it deceptively marketed Yaz and Yasmin.  The FDA has warned the company a number of times and required Bayer to address the fact that it downplayed the risks of its drugs while exaggerating the benefits of the pills. (Click here for a detailed timeline of the FDA’s actions against Bayer regarding Yaz.) By exaggerating the benefits of Yaz and Yasmin, for example by alleging that it could control all types of acne when in fact it was approved for only a particular type of acne, many young women were convinced to take Bayer’s pills.  Unfortunately, they did so without knowledge of the increased likelihood of blood clots.

If you are one of the thousands of women who have taken Yaz or Yasmin and have suffered a blood clot related injury, contact the Yaz attorneys at Kirkendall Dwyer LLP today.  There is still time to join the litigation and receive compensation for your injuries.  Time is short, contact us today.