More Lawsuits Filed Against Maker of Yaz and Yasmin

Los Angeles, CAStill more Yasmin birth control lawsuits have been filed against Bayer, alleging the contraception is linked to serious side effects. Although Bayer reportedly put money aside to settle some Yasmin side effects lawsuits and Yaz side effects lawsuits, that has not put an end to the litigation, with women still coming forward alleging they were not adequately warned about the risks associated with the birth control.

Studies, including a study commissioned by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), suggest Yasmin and Yaz are linked to an increased risk of blood clots because of the use of drospirenone. A study published in the journalBMJ (11/11) found that women who used birth control that included drospirenone—a synthetic version of progesterone (which is sometimes referred to as progestin)—had double the risk of blood clots as women using other oral contraceptives.

Lawsuits filed against Bayer allege the company did not properly test the contraceptives before selling them and then failed to warn the public or medical professionals about the risks associated with using Yaz and Yasmin. Furthermore, they allege Bayer produced television commercials that marketed Yaz and Yasmin as being safer to other forms of birth control that were available when in fact they were not safer.

Bayer has so far paid a reported $402 million to settle some Yaz and Yasmin lawsuits, while setting aside a further $600 million for future settlements. Approximately 11,000 lawsuits filed in federal multidistrict litigation, consolidated in the Southern District of Illinois. Some of those lawsuits allege plaintiffs suffered blood clots while others allege they suffered gall bladder problems.

Bellwether trials for Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella were scheduled to go to court earlier in 2012, but the sides sought mediation, resulting in settlements in at least some of the lawsuits. Although settlements have been reached in blood clot lawsuits, there have not been settlements of gall bladder claims.

In April 2012, the FDA ordered Bayer to increase the warnings on Yaz and Yasmin, to more adequately represent the risk of blood clots. That announcement was made following an FDA review of studies comparing the risk of blood clots between birth controls that contained drospirenone and those that did not. Although there were no consistent estimates of the comparative risk, some studies found up a three times the risk of blood clots in women who used drospirenone-containing birth control.

Even though some settlements have been announced, it is not too late for women who suffered health problems after using Yaz, Yasmin or Ocella to file a lawsuit, providing the statute of limitations has not run out.