Ortho Evra Birth Control Patch History

Millions of women around the world have been using the contraceptive known as the Ortho Evra Birth Control Patch since it was introduced in April 2002 by manufacturer Ortho McNeil Pharmaceutical. Many women who have used the patch report experiencing no ill side effects, however, according to the news reports, at least 29 women have died as a result of using the contraceptive patch.

  The FDA (US Food and Drug Administration agency), in a coordinated effort with the manufacturer of the birth control patch, issued a warning that the patch might expose women using it to almost 60% more estrogen, the hormone known to cause blood clot related injuries and deaths. Ortho McNeil Pharmaceutical (a Johnson and Johnson subsidiary) knew all too well about the increased risks before the patch was approved by the FDA but the related risks were not included in the original warning label. As of yet, the Ortho Evra birth control patch has not been recalled and is still being marketed aggressively to women in the United States and across other parts of the world.

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Ortho Evra Birth Control Patch Side Effects

Thousands of others women have suffered serious side effects such as strokes, blood clots, heart attacks, embolisms, deep vein thrombosis. Citing federal death and injury reports, the AP also found that about a dozen women, most in their late teens and early 20s, died in 2004 from blood clots believed to be related to the birth-control patch, and dozens more survived strokes and other clot-related problems.

If you or someone you know has been injured by the use of the OrthoEvra patch, you should seek legal advice as soon as possible.

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Ortho Evra Birth Control Patch Lawsuits

Documents that have been acquired by attorneys as a result of the ongoing litigation show Ortho McNeil Pharmaceutical has been examining the FDA's death and injury reports in depth. The manufacturer has been creating their own internal documentation which shows a significantly higher rate of blood clots and death in conjunction with women using the patch than with women using the pill.

An internal Ortho McNeil memo shows that in 2003 the manufacturer refused to fund a comparative study of the Ortho Evra patch to the Ortho-Cyclen pill because of concerns there was "too high a chance that study may not produce a positive result for Evra" and there was a "risk that Ortho Evra may be the same or worse than Ortho-Cyclen."

Last week, in response to AP questions about the Ortho McNeil memo, company spokesman Michael Beckerich said in a written statement that "decisions to fund studies are based upon scientific merit."

That doesn't change the fact that young women may be permanently injured or even worse, might be dying as a result of using the companies contraceptive products.

If you or someone you know has been injured by the use of the OrthoEvra patch, you should seek legal advice as soon as possible.

Register Your Ortho Evra Birth Control Patch Complaint Now