Drug Recall: Manufacturer of Infertility Drug Sued for Damages

Drug Recall Forces Lawsuit of Infertility Drug

In October, 2015, batches of the fertility drug Bravelle sold in the United States and Canada between 2014 and 2015 were recalled due to “reduced potency” that made the drug less effective. The drug recall developed lawsuits filed against the manufacturer – Ferring Pharmaceuticals – for failing to compensate patients who paid for more intensive infertility treatments after taking the now recalled Bravelle.

Brand for Ferring Pharmaceuticals. © Wikimedia Commons

Fertility drugs have known side effects, from nausea to a painful condition called ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS).

Less than a month ago, ABC News reported that “fertility rates in America — the number of babies born per 1,000 women ages 15 to 44 — are at the lowest levels ever recorded.”  

However, while overall pregnancy rates, including teen pregnancy, is decreasing, “the birthrate among women 30 to 44 is increasing.” The finding comes from a new report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

As the trend toward having children later in life grows, so do concerns about fertility, which is believed to decrease as women age.

According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, approximately 85-90% of women who have trouble conceiving or sustaining a pregnancy are treated with drug therapy or surgical procedures.  These treatments cost tens of thousands of dollars and are at times carried out over long periods of time.

For those who wish to have children, the costs may be far outweighed by the joys of parenthood – unless the fertility drug you paid for turned out to be a dud.

Drug recalls have been steadily increasing since 2009. If you are taking prescription drugs, it’s important to thoroughly educate yourself about the side effects.  If you believe your prescription drugs have made you ill, diminished your health, or have been ineffective, talk to your healthcare provider right away.

To search for specific drug recalls, visit Food & Drug Administration’s database.

Compensation for the losses you have suffered from the prescribed use of defective drugs may include medical bills, wage loss, and pain.

The attorneys at Pribanic & Pribanic have worked on many multi-million dollar defective drug and medical malpractice cases over the firm’s 27-year history. For a free case review, call the lawyers at Pribanic & Pribanic 1-800-392-4529.