Product News and Recalls

Johnson & Johnson recalls contraceptives

Johnson & Johnson has announced a voluntary recall of millions of oral contraceptive packages, after tests showed that one of the hormones in the pills was being released more slowly than it should.

A story in the Asbury Park Press notes that it’s the latest in a series of about 40 product recalls announced by Johnson & Johnson since 2009.

Among them is the 2010 recall of an all-metal hip implant manufactured by the company’s DePuy Orthopaedics division, which was prone to breaking down after only a few years and shedding toxic metal debris in patients’ bodies.

A Los Angeles jury recently awarded $8.3 million to a man injured by one of those implants.

The Asbury Park Press says the latest recall applies to millions of packages of the contraceptive Cilest distributed since 2011 in Europe, Asia and Latin America. Recent tests showed that the female hormone in the pills, norgestimate, was no longer dissolving at the specified rate.

Johnson & Johnson has been trying to upgrade problematic manufacturing plants while it slowly restores its recalled products to the market. The company is operating under an agreement with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that requires increased inspections and oversight at those factories.

Meanwhile, lost product sales and factory upgrades have cost the company well over $1 billion, the story says.

You should consult with a doctor if you have any ongoing symptoms or health concerns from a DePuy hip implant. If you have significant injuries, you should also consult with a DePuy hip lawyer to discuss your legal rights.