As we have previously reported, there have been a great number of lawsuits filed against Johnson & Johnson over the Ortho Evra patch, its patented contraceptive device. As many as 500 lawsuits have been filed over the patch in the last two years, alleging that it has caused clots, strokes, and in several cases death. A multidistrict litigation (MDL) proceeding is pending in Ohio on behalf of more than 100 women nationwide. Ortho Evra, which was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2001, is a once-a-week birth control patch worn on the skin. It releases estrogen and progestin directly into the bloodstream. In September, the FDA approved new label information for Ortho Evra following a study that showed women using the patch were twice as likely to experience blood clots as were those who took the pill. The FDA also required Ortho Evra last year to carry a new warning that the drug exposed women to 60% higher levels of estrogen than oral contraceptives.

Johnson & Johnson, which owns Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical Co., the patch’s developer and manufacturer, is selling 20 million prescriptions for the Ortho Evra patch. With regard to safety information, the company states on its Web site: “Serious as well as minor side effects have been reported with the use of the Patch. Serious risks, which can be life threatening, include blood clots, stroke and heart attacks and are increased if you smoke cigarettes.” Nearly 28,000 adverse events were reported to the FDA regarding Ortho Evra. In comparison, for that same time period, about 5,500 adverse events were reported by women taking the Ortho-Trycyclin birth control pill, another Johnson & Johnson product.

If you or a loved one has suffered from blood clots, pulmonary embolism, heart attack, stroke, deep vein thrombosis, and/or death while taking Ortho Evra, you may be entitled to significant financial compensation. Contact our Ortho Evra lawyers for a free legal consulation today!

Source: The National Law Journal

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