Members of an FDA advisory panel convened yesterday in order to assess the risk-benefit profile for a group of Bayer AG’s drospirenone-containing birth control products, including Yaz and Yasmin. These newer generation birth control pills continue to be the subject of heated debate within the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries due to their link to an increased risk for serious blood clots.
Ultimately, members of the advisory panel voted to affirm the benefits of Yaz and Yasmin, despite the increased clotting risks. The vote was mixed, however, with only 15 of the 26 panelists voting to back the controversial birth control pills. Interestingly, the panel also voted, by a large majority, to strengthen the warning labels on these products.
