Bayer Ups the Ante for Yasmin and Yaz Lawsuits

Orlando, FLBayer’s latest quarterly financial report (October 2012) states that the giant German drugmaker has reserved an additional $262.5 million to settle Yasmin and Yaz lawsuits. This amount is over and above $610 million Bayer set aside in July 2012.

Included in its financial report and stockholder’s newsletter, Bayer said that 205 million Euros in further accounting measures have been taken, “mainly based on additional claims asserted but not filed in court – for all cases in connection with the oral contraceptives Yasmin/YAZ of which we are currently aware and which we consider to be worthy of settlement (venous clot injuries).”

The case, which is known as Yasmin and Yaz (Drospirenone) Marketing, Sales Practices and Products Liability Litigation (MDL No. 2100, Southern District Illinois), has so far settled just less than half of all Yasmin and Yaz lawsuits filed on behalf of women who suffered either pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis (DVT) as a result of taking the drospirenone-containing oral contraceptives.

It is predicted that Bayer could pay more than $1.5 billion to resolve all cases involving those injuries, averaging about $212,000 a case. More than 12,000 cases have been filed against the drugmaker and still more cases are being filed, but ongoing settlements are only related to blood clots--gallbladder injuries are not being considered at this time.

However, in its quarterly report, Bayer has so far agreed to pay a combined $750 million to settle 3,490 legal claims that Yaz and Yasmin caused blood clots, and such injuries are alleged in a further 3,800 pending cases. According to drugwatch.com Bayer also reported an 18 percent decline in net income for the third quarter, as it deals with mounting litigation over Yaz.

A study published in the British Medical Journal (10/25/11) reported that Yaz and Yasmin users experienced twice as much risk of blood clot as women who used older contraceptives. Two days later the FDA issued its own study--"Combined Hormonal Contraceptives and the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease Endpoints”--showing drugs like Yaz could increase the risk of blood clots, DVT and pulmonary embolism by as much as 74 percent. It took Bayer until April 2012 to update labels for its drospirenone-containing oral contraceptives.

Women who have suffered blood clot injuries ( i.e., pulmonary embolism and DVT) from taking Yasmin, Yaz or Ocella—the latter is also a birth control pill made by Bayer that contains drospirenone—can still file a claim. Because time is limited, it is recommended that anyone who has suffered blood clots from either Yasmin, Yaz or Ocella should seek help from a lawyer experienced in defective drug litigation.