March 4, 2002 - British Women Sue Over Third Generation Contraceptive Pill

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Around 100 British women who claim they were exposed to potentially lethal side effects by using a "third generation" contraceptive pill began legal action against three drug firms in London's High Court Monday.

"Several of them are the victims of disastrous injury which will incapacitate them throughout their lives," Lord Brennan, representing the women, told the court.

The litigation includes claims brought on behalf of a number of women who, according to lawyers, died after using the pills that were introduced in the 1980s.

Brennan told the court that some of the women sufferered conditions including deep vein thrombosis, strokes and cerebral vein thrombosis.

The women are bringing claims against Schering Healthcare over its Femodene pill which appeared in 1987, Wyeth over its production of Minulet in 1988 and Tri-Minulet in 1992, and Organon Laboratories over its products Marvelon, in 1981, and Mercilon, in 1989.

"Because of the increased risk (of a type of thrombosis from third generation products) there should have been a warning to prescribers and users, " Brennan said.

"Had they been warned, it is the (women's) case that they would not have taken the third generation pill but either the second (generation) or some other form of contraception," Brennan added.

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