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ABOUT ORTHO EVRA BIRTH CONTROL PATCH

Ortho Evra is a birth control patch that is applied weekly. Available since April of 2002, Ortho Evra is marketed as a convenient alternative to the birth control pill.

Being the first and only transdermal contraceptive patch world wide, it gained instant popularity. It has been used by over 5 million women.

The patch is applied to the upper outer arm, the upper torso (front or back), the abdomen, or the buttocks. It is thin and smooth and can be worn discreetly under clothing. The special adhesive will keep the patch on during bathing, showering, swimming and exercise. A new patch is applied once a week for 3 consecutive weeks each month. Then the 4th week, no patch is worn.

According to the manufacturer, Ortho Evra is 99% effective when used correctly. The patch prevents pregnancy the same way as birth control pills - by preventing ovulation. This means that the ovary does not release an egg to be fertilized. It also thickens the cervical mucus, which makes it more difficult for sperm to enter the uterus, and it changes the endometrium to reduce the chance of implantation.

Ortho Evra is available by prescription only. It contains the same hormones found in the Pill - progestin and estrogen. These hormones are known to increase the risk of blood clots. When the hormones are ingested in pill form, they are swallowed and digested before being absorbed by the body. When delivered through the patch, a steady flow of hormones goes through the skin and directly into the bloodstream over a period of 7 days. The end result is that women using the patch have much higher levels of estrogen in their bodies, which can increase the risk of blood clots and other serious injuries. It is this difference and the drug company’s failure to warn that has given rise to the scores of lawsuits against the manufacturer. See Defects and Failure of the Product for more information.

THE MANUFACTURER

The Ortho Evra patch is manufactured by Ortho McNeil Pharmaceutical, Inc. based in Raritan, New Jersey. A subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, Ortho McNeil was created in 1993 by the merger of Ortho Pharmaceutical Corporation and McNeil Pharmaceutical. It is a sister company of Ortho McNeil, Inc., which produces medications for pain, acid reflux and infectious diseases.

The patch is produced by Ortho Women’s Health & Urology, a division of Ortho McNeil Pharmaceutical. This division is now celebrating their 75th year in business.

Their product line includes several bladder medications and the All-Flex diaphragm, but their primary focus is on contraception. In addition to the patch, they produce the following birth control pills: Modicon, Ortho-Cept, Ortho-Cyclen, Ortho Micronor, Ortho-Novum, and Ortho Tri-Cyclen.

ORTHO EVRA SALES

Approximately 5 million women have used the Ortho Evra patch since it was introduced on the market in 2002. In 2004 alone, sales from the Ortho Evra patch topped $411 million dollars.

Overall, in 2005, Johnson & Johnson racked up $1.1 billion in sales of its contraceptive products. According to their 2005 annual report, they were anticipating a decline in sales for 2006 due to "labeling changes and negative media coverage concerning product safety".

In an apparent effort to make up for lost sales, in the summer of 2006, Johnson & Johnson raised the price of their Medicaid-reimbursable contraceptive products. The price increases were drastic - according to the Associated Press, birth control pills went up 20-fold and the Ortho Evra patch went from $12.15 to $22.46. This created a financial crisis for state Medicaid programs across the country. Johnson & Johnson spokesperson Julie Keenan responded to questions about the price hike by simply stating that the pricing was in line with federal Medicaid pricing formulas that change every financial quarter. Considering the fact that Ortho Evra sales were in the millions, a $10 increase in price is a hefty gain for the drug company.

If you or someone you know has used the Ortho Evra patch and has suffered a blood clot related injury, such as a stroke, embolism, heart attack or death, please contact our offices for a free consultation with one of our pharmaceutical attorneys.

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