Woman sued Bayer for anti-baby pill

Thrombosis danger by anti-baby pill

07/10/2013

Anti-baby pills have side effects. This is known since the development of the first contraceptive pill. However, new anti-baby pills of the third and fourth generation seem to be particularly harmful to health. According to the German Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Safety, certain drugs are twice as likely to cause thrombosis as older pills. After the manufacturers in many European countries come under increasing pressure, now complains in Germany for the first time a young woman against the Bayer Group because of serious side effects of a pill.

New anti-baby pills from Bayer may be at high health risk
Manufacturers of third- and fourth-generation anti-baby pills may have to contend with large sales losses in the future. Because the pills get because of possible side effects in Europe and the US more and more in the criticism. A panel of the European Medicines Agency EMA is currently working on the topic. It should be clarified whether the said pills should be prescribed in the future only in exceptional cases. However, a final decision by the EMA is not expected before autumn.

„The aim of this procedure is first of all to evaluate the existing data again very accurately and then to come to a conclusion on the basis of this review again, whether the currently existing advice for doctors and for patients are still up-to-date, whether they need to be updated, We need to change whether we need new prescriptive recommendations for doctors and patients, "said Monika Benstetter, spokeswoman for the EMA „Germany radio“.

For the first time in Germany, a young woman against the pharmaceutical company Bayer brought to court because an anti-baby pill of the company in the woman is said to have caused a life-threatening pulmonary embolism with severe long-term consequences. In Switzerland is currently also being tried because of side effects of anti-baby pills in court. The complaint was also joined by one of the largest health insurance companies in the country. In the United States, Bayer has so far paid 1.18 billion euros for out-of-court settlements to around 5,700 women who had suffered thromboses and pulmonary embolisms in connection with a pill. However, Bavaria did not accept liability.

Third and fourth generation anti-baby pills at high risk of thrombosis
Again and again, the procedures involve newer third- and fourth-generation pills containing substances such as desogestrel, gestodene or drospirenone. According to data from the German Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Safety from 2011, taking such preparations doubles the risk of thrombosis in comparison to older pills. In addition to Bayer, manufacturers such as Ratiopharm, Pfizer, Grünenthal and Hexal also offer pills containing these active ingredients.

At the end of January, Bayer had already hit the headlines after the French pharmaceutical regulators announced that in France, the market approval for the birth control pill „Diane 35“ should be suspended. This decision was based on four deaths associated with the product. „Diane 35“ is also popular in Germany, especially among young women, because it helps against acne. As the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices announced in January, the prescription of „Diane 35“ in Germany as a pure contraceptive no longer possible. Bayer then emphasized that the drug should be prescribed exclusively for the treatment of acne. (Ag)

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