Later this week, an FDA advisory panel will meet in order to discuss the safety and efficacy of drospirenone-containting birth control pills like Yaz and Yasmin.
These newer-generation oral contraceptives have been linked to an increased risk for blood clots compared to their older-generation counterparts. They have also been the subject of heated debate amongst health regulators worldwide. In the U.S., federal regulators are pushing for more research on the overall safety of these drospirenone-containing birth control pills. In fact, while an October report from the FDA did, in fact, report the increased clotting risks associated with the use of Yaz and similar pills, six other trials simultaneously reported conflicting data on whether these products actually do increase the risk for clotting. Given the disparity between studies, the FDA has yet to reach a definitive conclusion regarding drospirenone-containting birth control pills.
The FDA’s panel meeting is set to take place on December 8th. It will be iterating to learn more about the panel’s discussion, especially as it relates the future of Bayer’s Yaz sales. Last year alone, the German drug maker brought in more than $1.5 billion thanks to its popular oral contraceptive.
