Yasmin Problems and Lawsuits Cause Losses for Bayer

Posted on | May 8, 2010 | No Comments

Some women taking Yasmin or Yaz have developed deep vein thrombosis and blood clots, possibly as a result of this oral contraceptive.  The risk of taking these contraceptives stems from the main active ingredient, a hormone called  drospirenone.  This “fourth” generation progestin is only found in Yasmin, Yaz, and the generic form of the oral birth control, Ocella.  Yasmin is manufactured by Bayer, who despite losing over 10% in sales of Yasmin, has seen over 5% increase overall in sales, due to the success of other drugs they sell.

Over a thousand lawsuits have already been filed over side effects stemming from taking Yasmin, Yaz and Ocella.  The federal class actions  have been consolidated into Yasmin Class action lawsuits, centralized in Illinois.  The Yasmin class action lawsuits have resulted in decreased sales of the drug.

In the meantime, Bayer has developed and marketed a new birth control pill called Mirena.  Mirena is a levonorgestral-based pill, which is thought to be safer then drospirenone.  There is supposedly less risk of blood clots in Mirena.  However, there is a study that claims results showing increased risk of blood clots of four times, in women taking Mirena.  It’s all relative: while that sounds bad, it’s better than the risk created by drospirenone, which is over six times that of women not taking the drug.

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