J&J paid $68 million to settle birth-control patch claims
Posted by Administrator (admin) on Oct 15 2008 at 8:15 AM
Ortho Evra Patch >>

Ortho Evra birth-control patch has cost the Johnson & Johnson pharmaceutical company an estimated $68.7 million to settle hundreds of lawsuits alleging that users were injured or even died (20 cases) as a result of using this patch.

According to the lawsuits filed in state and federal court on behalf of 4,000 women claim that the New Jersey-based company concealed the information that exposed the risk posed by estrogen released by the devices.

The patch exposes women to elevated doses of estrogen when compared to ordinary contraceptive pills. According to some studies, increased exposure raises the risk of blood clots, which may lead to strokes or heart attacks. J&J claims the patch is safe if used as per its Food and Drug Administration-approved label. (With the approval of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, J&J had altered its labeling in 2005, 2006 and 2008 to strengthen warnings).

In the filed suits, majority of users claimed that the patch caused deep-vein thrombosis, or blood clots in the legs, and pulmonary embolisms, or blood clots in the lungs. Some alleged the patch for strokes and heart attacks. According to the complaints, Ortho Evra patch caused the deaths of 20 women.

Gloria Vanderham, a spokeswoman for the company didn’t comment on the company’s labelling and top secret settlements. Nevertheless, she said that the patch is safe and effective if used as per the FDA-approved label. Vanderham said that the patch provides a needed birth control option.

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