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Patch Maker Settling Ortho Evra Lawsuits

–April 26, 2006

It has been reported that a number of lawsuits filed by women who suffered life-threatening blood clots and strokes as a result of the Ortho Evra birth control patch are being settled outside of court.

In the last several months, Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson has settled about a dozen lawsuits for millions of dollars and are in the process of settling over a 100 more claims.

According to one source, Ortho-McNeil is currently "approaching everyone" representing women in lawsuits, and lawyers are beginning to submit negotiations for settlement.

In the last year, thousands of claims have been filed against Ortho-McNeil after reports revealed that the birth control patch exposed women to 60 percent more estrogen than the pill, significantly increasing the risk of blood clots and heart complications.

The lawsuits allege that the drug company intentionally neglected to warn doctors and patients of the fatal risks of Ortho Evra in an effort to make a profit.

In April 2004, an 18-year-old fashion student, Zakiya Kennedy, collapsed on a subway platform and her sudden death was linked to the Ortho Evra birth control patch. Since then, dozens more cases of serious injury and blood clots associated with the use of the birth control patch were revealed.

One woman, 37-year-old Philomena Ugochukwa, who filed a claim against Ortho-McNeil after she suffered a blood clot resulting in a stroke and brain damage, received more than $10 million in compensation, sources estimate.

The 11 or so other plaintiffs who have negotiated a settlement with the company include women between the ages of 18 to 47 who have suffered severe blood clots in the brain, lung, and leg. One woman had a stroke.

Ortho Evra was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug administration in November 2001 and was heavily marketed as the first and only once-a-week birth control patch. Less than 5 years later, almost 10 million prescriptions were written for Ortho Evra. The birth control patch still remains on the market today, but carries a "black box label," the strongest FDA warning.

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