ZKB Law applauds ABC News for coverage of the dangers of Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella

Dec. 7, 2011 - PRLog -- We applaud ABC News for airing a story on the dangers of Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella birth controls, just days before an FDA hearing on the drugs.

The story highlighted former FDA Commissioner Dr. David A. Kessler’s belief that Bayer, the maker of Yaz, was dishonest when relaying the health risks of the oral contraceptives.

Kessler is accusing Bayer of withholding vital information and concealing the real risks of the drugs.

In court documents, Kessler states, "Bayer violated its duties under FDA regulations and state law by selectively presenting data as to [blood clotting] events.” While Kessler acknowledges that Bayer did conduct their own independent studies on the drospirenone-containing drugs, he believes that the mega company failed to report all of their findings, since some of those dangerous findings would prevent the drug from being released onto the market.

Kessler also pointed out that if he were the head of the FDA in 2000, not only would he have ordered further investigation, but he may not have allowed the drug to enter the market at all.

Instead, Bayer allegedly kept quiet on the fact that Yaz could increase a woman’s risk for serious blood clots, resulting in millions of Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella prescriptions and tens of thousands of serious injuries to women.

The ABC News story also addresses the fact that Bayer misrepresented what the pill can really do. Yaz was advertised as the only birth control on the market that can fight the commonly-suffered problems of pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS) and mild acne in women. In reality it was only cleared to treat a more rare and serious from of PMS, called premenstrual dysphonic disorder, or PMDD, and moderate acne.

But Bayer continued to release flashy and colorful commercials; advertisements that were quickly scooped up by television executives across the country.

ABC News even acquired internal emails between executives, some of which were encouraging the “miracle pill.” One email read:

"[T]his is outstanding!!! can we get good morning america to do the same segment!!!???!! (tee hee)."  

Further information on Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella, the only birth control family of pills to contain the controversial hormone, drospirenone, will be discussed at this week’s FDA meeting on the drugs. Keep checking our website as we provide full coverage of the meeting, which is taking place at the University of Maryland University College on December 8th.

For immediately answers to your questions, call us toll-free at 888.841.9623 or via email at Anneke@toledolaw.com.

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ZOLL, KRANZ & BORGESS, LLC is an advocate for pharmaceutical drug/device safety and a recognized leader in nationwide litigation involving defective medical drugs and devices, as well as other types of Multidistrict (“MDL”) & Class Action Litigation.