NuvaRing became a popular birth control product in recent years. But apparently it was not as safe for consumer use as the advertisements showed. The result? A whopping $100 million settlement.
Time magazine reports on the settlement.
Merck is the producer of NuvaRing, an intrauterine contraceptive device, which caused health problems to many users. The company was recently slammed with countless product liability lawsuits.
Time explains the product, “NuvaRing, a vaginal ring that acts as a hormonal contraceptive and contains estrogen and progestin as commonly found in birth control pills, has been associated with an increased risk of developing blood clots that can cause heart attack, stroke, or sudden death.”
Merck is one of the biggest pharmaceutical product producing companies in the country. Time reports, “3,000 people are eligible to participate in the settlement, and 95% of those women will have to participate in order for the deal to take effect.”
Other pharmaceutical companies actually had to pay a great deal more than Merck in past settlements. “Merck is getting off easy compared with similar birth control company settlements. Bayer paid nearly $1.6 billion to settle thousands of lawsuits last year surrounding its Yaz and Yazmin birth control pills, which plaintiffs claimed also led to blood clots, heart attacks, and strokes,” according to Time.
