• yasmin 2

A lawsuit filed by Bayer Pharmaceuticals Inc. against Watson Pharmaceuticals Inc. claiming patent infringement by Watson was dismissed by a federal judge. Watson was recently granted an approval to file an Abbreviated New Drug Application for their Yasmin generic, Zarah. Bayer originally had attempted to prevent Watson from filing the application with the Food and Drug Administration but a court denied the motion.

Bayer has a similar lawsuit pending with Teva Pharmaceuticals, which violated both patent protections and an agreement that had been set forth between the two companies. Teva is facing the motion after their introduction of Gianvi, a generic form of Bayer’s once popular birth control Yaz.

Yaz and Yasmin both contain the hormone drospirenone, which is referred to as a “fourth generation” progestin. The two drugs and their generics are the only birth control pills to implement use of the hormone. Women and their families have filed in excess of 4,000 lawsuits against Bayer after allegedly experiencing potentially fatal side effects that are believed to be linked to drospirenone. The two drugs are also said to cause an elevation in the blood’s potassium levels, which in turn can cause heart attacks. Other reported side effects include pulmonary embolisms, blood clots, gallbladder disease, and strokes. Several deaths have been attributed to the use of Yaz and Yasmin oral contraceptives.

Some 2,000 Yaz lawsuits have been consolidated into a single multi-district litigation. Judge David Herndon is presiding over the case and recently ordered the un-redaction of over 30 million pages of documentation by Bayer Pharmaceuticals. Plaintiffs argue that Bayer did not conduct thorough research into the short term or long term side effects of using Yaz or Yazmin. The suit also alleges that the company did not provide consumers with proper information so that they could compare the risks of the two brands of birth control pills with other available oral contraceptives.

In what could be a potential pitfall for Watson, prescriptions for Zarah only contained the same warning information that was listed on Yasmin. Watson worries that it may face lawsuits similar to the ones currently pending against Bayer for their drospirenone containing products.

If you or a loved one has experienced a serious side effect or symptoms of side effects related to Yaz, Yasmin, or the generic Ocella, contact Newsome Law Firm and fill out a case evaluation form today. Our team of attorneys has experience specific to complications associated with prescription medication recalls. Not only can they give you the legal guidance you need, they can help you get the compensation you deserve.