Ortho Evra Birth Control Patch Causing Legal Problems For Ortho-McNeil
Ortho-McNeil Facing Legal Problems
The legal problems for Ortho-McNeil have continued to mount over the last few years. In addition to the well-documented issues they are facing with birth defect lawsuit, we have covered Ortho-McNeil’s problems with Levaquin. Now there is evidence that Ortho-McNeil’s parent company, Johnson & Johnson, hid elevated risks of strokes and blood clots prior to releasing its birth control patch Ortho Evra for sale to the public. If these allegations are substantiated, then it would be yet another piece of evidence that the corporate culture at Johnson & Johnson – one of the world’s leading producers of pharmaceutical products – is geared toward profits over safety.
Ortho Evra was first marketed for sale in 2002 in a very successful launch. Since then, approximately 40 million prescriptions have been written for Ortho Evra and Time Magazine even called it one of the “best inventions of the year” the year it was released. However, since then there has been a rash of claims of injury and death associated with the product.
Ortho-Mcneil Patch
The main issue that some experts have highlighted with the mOrtho Evra patch is that it continually delivers a high level of estrogen for a week. This amounts to an estimated 60 percent more than is typical with an oral contraceptive. Allegedly, this risk is what led to the resignation of at least one Johnson & Johnson executive: former Vice President of the company, Dr. Patrick Caubel, quit citing the high rate of release of estrogen in the Ortho Evra patch as a reason for his resignation. He felt that the company was ignoring the risks in the interest of maintaining the bottom line.
Birth Defects In Those Who Take Topamax
This is alarming and infuriating news for those who suspect their children suffer birth defects due to their Topamax prescription. If Ortho-McNeil and Johnson & Johnson were so cavalier about the seemingly inherent risks of the Ortho Evra patch, who is to say that they did not do the same with Topamax?