Additional Plaintiffs Join Bravelle Class Action

Chicago, ILAttorneys representing plaintiffs in a class action against Ferring Pharmaceuticals concerning its infertility drug Bravelle have added more plaintiffs to the lawsuit, including an organization providing medical benefits and prescription drugs to Philadelphia city workers.

On April 11, 2017, plaintiff attorneys in the class action Nicole Keith et al v. Ferring Pharmaceuticals et al, Case No. 1:15-cv-10381, US District Court, Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division filed a third amended petition, adding five individual plaintiffs along with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, District Council 47 Health and Welfare Fund, which provides health insurance benefits to employees of the City of Philadelphia.

The class action was filed in November 2015 by 13 plaintiffs just a month after Ferring voluntarily recalled all lots of the infertility medication Bravelle, the brand name version of the generic drug urofollitropin, which was sold in the US between March 2014 and October 2015.

Bravelle stimulates egg maturation and multiple follicular development in women who are unable to produce and release eggs. Bravelle is often used in intrauterine insemination and in vitro fertilization, which are reproductive technologies.

Class plaintiffs claimed that Ferring failed to take necessary steps to make sure that recalled lots met the pharmaceutical company's potency representations for Bravelle. In addition, the class seeks damages for out-of-pocket expenses to buy the drug and payments for fertility treatments using Bravelle.

Following its Bravelle recall, Ferring is offering reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses to purchase Bravelle but not for costs of fertility treatments. Among class plaintiffs, out-of-pocket costs ranged from $2,500 to as much as $35,000 each.

"Had plaintiffs known prior to purchase that the Bravelle they bought suffered from sub-potency issues, or even that it had the potential to suffer from sub-potency issues, they would not have purchased the drug and would not have paid the costs associated with the related medical treatment of which Bravelle was an integral part," according to the lawsuit.

Judge St. Eve also extended the deadline to May 12, 2017 for Ferring Pharmaceuticals to amend pleadings and join parties to the class action.