Generic Yaz Lawsuit Filed Over Launch of Gianvi Birth Control by Teva

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Teva Pharmaceuticals announced this week that it has launched a generic version of Bayer’s Yaz birth control pill, which will be marketed as Gianvi. The announcement has sparked a patent infringement lawsuit from Bayer, who says Teva is breaking an agreement between the two companies. 

The generic Yaz lawsuit was filed shortly after Teva announced the copycat pill. Bayer officials say Teva is violating a contract between the two companies that prohibited the generic drug maker from launching Yaz generic until at least July 2011. Teva officials, however, say that the contract allowed them to sell the generic birth control pill early under certain conditions.

Yaz (ethinyl estradiol and droperinone) is a birth control pill manufactured by Bayer, which contains a fourth-generation progestin that is only found in Yaz, it’s precursor, Yasmin, and Ocella, a generic Yasmin version. While Ocella is also distributed by Teva, Bayer still manufactures the pill under a prior agreement between the drug makers.

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Earlier this year, Bayer reported a 10% drop in Yaz sales for the first quarter of 2010 amid growing concerns about the potential side effects of Yaz and Yasmin. The losses in the healthcare division were at odds with gains made in other parts of the company, which saw a 5.3% increase in sales overall for the first quarter of 2010. The successful launch of a Yaz generic would likely cause Bayer’s profits from the birth control pill to fall even further.

“Demand for [the Yaz family of oral contraceptives] in the United States suffered particularly from the discussion surrounding the thrombosis risk of contraceptives containing drospirenone,” the company said in its report. “However, Bayer continues to believe that the risk profile is comparable to that of other combination oral contraceptives.”

Bayer currently faces more than 1,100 Yaz lawsuits, Yasmin lawsuits and generic Ocella lawsuits filed throughout the United States on behalf of women who allege that the drug maker failed to adequately research their birth control pill or warn about the risk of serious and potentially life-threatening injuries, such as stroke, heart attack, pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis, gallbladder disease and other complications.

Critics have pointed to drospirenone as the likely cause of an increased risk of blood clots and other serious health problems with Yaz and Yasmin. Many of the complaints filed against the drug maker allege that a recall of Yaz and Yasmin should have been issued after post-marketing reports suggested that the birth control pills carry a higher risk than some other oral contraceptives

Tags: Bayer, Birth Control Pill, Gianvi, Ocella, Teva Pharmaceuticals, Yasmin, Yaz
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294 Comments

Kawanda
As many of you have posted, I too went to my local pharmacy to pick up my refill and instead of $20, it rang up $8.48. I thought maybe this was a special, error on thier part,etc. I opened it and saw Gianvi. I went back to tthe pharmacist who stated they gave me the generic version to fulfill my last refill and next month, I will get my regular Yaz. I understand it is the same, but when you are used to something working, cheaper or not, you are going with the brand that has worked. Yaz has not helped me with my moods (they kind of got worse) but that was ok. It did the job. I have used other BC’s in the past and have been on Yaz for a year. I can do generic aspirin, antibiotics,toothpaste,etc but I don’t know about using a generic version in regards to my Birth Control. Right now, I have no choice, so we shall see and I will check my local planned parenthood also. Thanks for that.
mel
In response to Amy: Yasmin and Ocella are not generic versions of Yaz. Yaz and Yasmin are similar pills made by the same company and Ocella is a generic version of Yasmin. Gianvi is the first generic version of Yaz and was just released in the US this month.
Amy
I have tried other generic version of Yaz and have not had good results. Yasmin and Ocella both were ineffective in helping with the crazy, moodiness I get and the pain. I know all the generics have the same ingredients, but the amounts and the balance of those ingredients is what makes Yaz work for me. I just got the Gianvi, without any explanation or acknowledgement from the wal-mart pharmacy that it was a generic replacement, and I paid the same price! I am taking it back, I finally found something that works and doesn’t make me crazier, I want it back!
shel
Daughter takes it from dematologist and only for that. The generic doesn’t work the same for acne and she is now having major breakouts. Having to go to a and harsher medicine now. This generic is garbage.
Megan
Ladies…check out your local Planned Parenthood! I just got a year supply of Yaz for free.
sharon
Has anyone had a reaction to the sun, like increased sensitivity and/or blistering, after switching to Gianvi?
S
I was also very surprised when I received my mail order perscription for yaz and it was this new generic drug. I am very scared to take a drug that is so new to the market. Does anyone know how long this drug has been through clinical trials for? Does anyone know what sort of results the trials had? Has anyone started to take this and have any comments on reactions? Do you feel any different? Has anyone called their doctors concerned and was told that this drug is safe and ok to take? Honestly the price does not matter to me at all what is more important is being safe and healthy. A measly 20$ more in my pocket a month would do me no good if I get pregnant when I dont want to be or if even worse I have a stroke or a heart attack. I work for a pharmaceutical company and i know that just because a drug has been let out on the market it doesnt mean it is definately safe to take. And the fact that it is made in Israel really scares me because Im sure there regulations are not nearly as strict as the FDA.
Melissa
I called in yesterday to get a refill on yaz and once i picked it up they said my insurance would no longer pay for yaz so they gave me gianvi. They are saying they have the same ingrediants and everything but i was wondering if they offered the same things . Yaz has worked wonders with my acne since ive been on it ive only had one small outbreak and it only lasted 3 or 4 days and was only on my chin. I had horrible acne and it has drastically cleared it up my face is smoother than ever just waiting for the blemishes to go away. I really hope this generic version acts the same as the name brand ! ! ! ! !
A
I guess i’m confused… my yaz was $35 a month up until this month, they replaced (without asking me) the yaz with this generic and it was still $35. I receive no savings, but don’t have the option (unless I get my doc to rewrite the prescription) of going back to yaz. If somethings not broke, please don’t try to fix it- I want my yaz for $35 back please.
Katy
I dont have insurance and I usually pay $76 for Yaz. I went for my refill yesterday and paid $36 for the generic. I was confused and thought I got the wrong thing. I just wish someone would notify us before this happens.
Carlynne
I went to the pharmacy today to pick up my Yaz Birth Control and received instead the generic brand Gianvi. I asked the pharmacist if it is the same as Yaz and the pharmacist said that it was, that it was just the generic brand of Yaz. I also asked the pharmacist if I will get any side-effects from changing to the generic and the pharmacist said no. I’ve been on Yaz for about 3 years, so that is why I am here looking up information.
Jodine
I just got my first pack of Gianvi and it only cost me 10$ with my insurance where my yaz was 35$, so this is much better. I guess “angry” doesn’t have insurance or at least not a good one.
Caroline
Like many of you, I recently went to refill Yaz at CVS and discovered that my prescription had been replaced with Gianvi. The pharmacist asked me if I was okay with this, and after asking her a couple of questions I agreed. It was ten dollars cheaper for me than Yaz. Reading these comments has me feeling a little conflicted, so I decided to do some research of my own. Every credible source i have been able to find has told me that name brand and generic drugs are for all means and purposes exactly the same. check this site out. http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=46204 i’m going to try Gianvi, not expecting anything different than my experiences the past 6 months on Yaz. good luck to you all!
amber
i just received gianvi from my mail-order prescription company and the price is just about half for 3 months worth. Yaz cost me about $54 for 3 months supply whereas my first bill for Gianvi will be about $24 for the same amount of medication. we will see how it works…i have one more pack of yaz before i start the gianvi…
Anne-Marie
I take part in mail order precriptions. My cost went from $60 for Yaz down to $20. I’m not worried about possible side affects or any of that. As long as it does it’s job that’s all that matters to me. What happens happens and worrying about it can just make it worse.
Lindsay
As of 10 minutes ago I picked up this generic to Yaz and I’m kind of worried….however, some of these comments have made me a little more at ease. Hopefully this stuff continues to work for me just like Yaz has. I just hate having this surprise of a new drug, and seeing as it’s generic and only costs about 4 bucks cheaper for me. (Only $74 not $76 this month…woo?) I hope it stays the same for all of us on Yaz.
Janene
Yesterday I picked up the generic for Yaz that the pharmacy sold to me stating that my insurance would no longer pay for Yaz. Needless to say, I am seriously checking it out! I discovered this discussion and it seems like this has happened to many women RECENTLY…..Why? I’ve been reading lots of the comments on this particular site and I have the same questions and concerns. I was diagnosed with PMDD about two years ago and Yaz was the wonder drug for me…still believe it! I took many natural remedies (St.Johns Wort worked best for my moodiness but not the other symptoms) and stopped because that was the only supplement that Yaz suggested to stop. The recent hype concerning law suits piqued my intrest to learn more and after learning a lot, I am really not that worried. I guess I am writing this because it has helped me to read others comments, questions, concerns, etc. I intend to keep checking this
Sheila
I was surprised to get this Gianvi instead of my YAZ. No wonder when I went to the pharmacist a few weeks ago they wanted me to pay $20 for YAZ. I thought my insurance expired. I called them and Im still covered. Went back today and they gave me this. (I get BC for free) Kinda nervous as I see this is basically a NEW DRUG. Scary.
rosie
I ment costumers taking generics shouldn’t be worried. Yes when drs check off that little box to allow generics to be filled we as pharmacy techs will fill your medication with a generic unless not in stock or back ordered then we fill for brand with higher copay* depending on your insurance plan you also can decide to take it brand and we can fill it upon your request but then that’s a higher copay than regular brand copay because you as a patient are requiring it, now the dr can request brand only and you might find it a cheaper copay. If you call your insurance they can tell you the exact copay before filling it at your desire pharmacy but always ask at the pharmacy counter before you leave and geta counsultaion for the pharmacist before you walk out they know there stuff very well.
rosie
I ment costumers taking generics shouldn’t be worried. Yes when drs check of thr box to allow generics to be filled we as pharmacy techs will fill your medication with a generic unless not in stock or back ordered then we fill for brand with higher copay* depending on your insurance plan but always ask at the pharmacy counter before you leave and geta counsultaion for the pharmacist before you walk out they know there stuff very well.
Rosie
I’m a cpht and I have been taking yaz how ever now that the generic one came out is super cheap on my insurance. It is the same active ingridients and I always talk to my pharmacists about brands chnaging to generics they are cost savings and I am not worried at all. How ever ppl should be worried it is the same exact thing. With this economy anything worth saving is worth having. .
Deanne
The pharmacy filled my YAZ generically on the first dy it was available. I am taking the pill for help with PMDD. m The generic versiojn is NOT the same. After two days on the generic, I was weeping, crabby, and back to the old PMDD symptoms. My doic switched me back to the name brand.
Jeni
I have taken several different birth control pills successfully. Yaz gave me 2 blood clots within 6 months of starting it. I have no other risk factors and have had no clots since stopping it. Now I cannot take any other bc pill because no doctor will prescribe it to someone who has a previous blood clot. Bite me, Bayer.
Chels
I just received my Gianvi tonight. After being on Yaz for a year im a bit concerned but I wont know until I try. I have been on MANY different BC pills due to mainly to my endometriosis that they found when I was 19. Im 22 now but my body wont let the rest work… only Yaz… SO hopefully all will work out. My Gianvi was only $10 as opposed to the $25 for Yaz.
Susan
I am excited to give the generic a try!!! It will only cost me $20/mo instead of $60. That’s a huge savings! Yaz did wonders helping me control my PMDD and clearing up my acne. I will monitor my weight which is what usually is effected by birth control pills for me. Some generics are NOT the same. For example, Synthroid generics can effect an individual’s TSH levels; however, I am willing to try this generic if it saves me $40/mo (equates to $480/yr!).
Tessa
I just received Gianvi in my mail-order prescriptions and at first thought they had sent me the wrong prescription as well, since I didn’t even know there was a generic. The active ingredients are the same, so as long as I don’t have any adverse reactions to it, I am thrilled to pay a $20 copay for a three-month supply rather than a $70 copay. As for pharmacy’s filling your prescription with generics, the ones I have gone to (CVS, Walgreen’s) state that very clearly when you drop off your prescriptions and my doctor’s prescriptions have the option of checking “brand-name only”, so it really should be no surprise to anyone who is literate that this is allowed without your express consent. As for the side-effects, EVERY drug has possible side effects and the side effects listed in the lawsuits against Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella are no different than the risks related to any other birth control. Obviously, it is something to consider. I certainly don’t want to have any of those conditions, but I am fully aware of the side effects and the odds of having them since I read the information packet enclosed with the prescriptions.
Wying N.
Yea, the pharmacist also filled my prescription with Gianvi and I thought I was getting the wrong prescription at first too. Then they said it’s a generic refill and that it was done by the insurance company. The insurance company then told me that it might have been the doctor who may have checked the box which said to substitute with generic if available. Everyone I have consulted said it’s the same thing and that I should not worry since its the same drug. I’m skeptical and still worried; I loved Yaz despite the risks. Is Yaz the ONLY birth control (pill or otherwise) that can help with the moodiness, fatigue, appetite, etc?
t
I have been working in the medical field for years and the generic drug is the exact same active ingredient and most of the time the exact same contents all together (ingredients to make the capsule shell and so forth) as the name brand. To prove this next time you go to the drug store pick up Tylenol and the store generic brand of acetaminophen it is the exact same drug down to the chemical structure. People do not believe this but it is fascinating to see how much more you pay for Robitussin, Tylenol PM (acetaminophen and diphenhydramine- which is brand name Benadryl) or even Yaz when the generic or store brand contains the exact same ingredients on the label. I do take Yaz and was switched to the generic and looking at the ingredients it is the exact same drugs with the exact same dosages. You cannot call it that drug unless it is chemically identical in structure and components. With over the counter medications the only thing that may differ is the amount of a particular drug in the overall pill which anyone can see and compare by looking at the labels. To answer side effect questions, ALL drugs have side effects. Even excessive amounts of supplements and vitamins have side effects. Most oral contraceptives have similar side effects switching to a different form of contraceptive such as injections or IUDs have different side effects but still have them non the less. The bottom line is the risk is always there and it is up to the individual whether the benefits outweigh the risks. Hope this answered some questions.
Annie
I just got my refill for bc and the pharm advise me about the generic brand Gianvi. I am hestitate about taking it, but if it provides the protection i need, i’m okay with it. I never have any side effects with Yaz. I will keep you posted. Honestly i don’t understand what the problem is, like the others viewer’s said you have a choose to use a different contraceptive. I was blessed to have one healthly baby. But do you people realize the cost along to have a baby, with healthcare along it costed me 30k. I don’t mind spending the $76 a month for the protection compare to daycare a month. Do the math ladies.
Candice
I would be glad if it was only costing me 30 or 40 but it cost me 68 and I was EXCITED about that I normally pay 87.00. I am a single mother that just got a divorce in which I had to fight for custody of my lil girl. I have had several female surgeries and prior to the divorce I had decided that if I had to have another I would have a hysteromy but then 4 mo after I left my husband I was having problems again and went to the doctor and I had a laposopy surgery again in less then 6mo after the last one and then I starting the yaz and have been on it since and had very few problems and I am so glad I didnt do the hysteromy because I truly want another child and I have an excelent guy and want to be able to have more kids with him when the time is right in our lives also my lil girl wants a brother and sister. It has been a blessing to finally find something that has helped with the pain and the prevention of anymore problems so I just have to make that scarfice to be able to one day expand our family. So I am hoping that the generic is just as good because I could truly use the extra 20.00 a month.
gemstone
I just found out about the generic today. Even though Yaz is so expensive I have to take it over other brands because I use it to treat endometriosis and it’s the only one that works (for those that are wondering why not switch or use condoms). However, the generic is more… makes no sense.
whitney
Just got gianvi tonight because walmart was out of stock of yaz, so they just assumed i wanted the generic. After I told them i didnt want this they continued to tell me that my insurance wouldnt pay as much for yaz any longer. last month yaz cost me 30$ with my insurance this month 42. I went ahead and took the gianvi after talking to the pharacist and with it only costing me 20$. i am so scared to take it though and will be calling my doctor in the morning!! not happy about this AT ALL
student pharmacist
How can you demand that pills only cost less than $25? Just because something is generic does not mean that it will be cheap. Yes, the point of generic drugs is for it to be cheaper than the brand while maintaining the same quality but sometimes it takes a while for the price to go down. Isn’t it crazy that you could also visit a planned parenthood and receive contraceptive medication for cheaper than $76? Furthermore, how can you be sure that the quality of medications you buy in other countries are up to par with the regulations in the United States? It is more likely that there are issues with counterfeit medicines in other countries, hence why the prices are often cheaper. There are plenty of other options for oral contraceptives if price is the biggest issue. Generics for Ortho-cyclen and Ortho-tri-cyclen are $9 a month at Kroger or Giant Eagle. I think that’s an affordable price to pay to protect against pregnancy without going broke.
Traci
I just got the generic of Yaz today, and it only cost me $10, and when I was paying full price for Yaz, I was only paying about $40…
Emily
As a long time user of Yaz I just opted for the generic version “Gianvi” and was also surprised that the cost was only $10 less then Yaz. I was nervous switching pills as well and actually got sick the first day I started taking Giani..I hope that I actually caught a cold versus getting sick from the new pill.
Tammie
What is very irritating is that the insurance companies arbitrarily just send you the generic w/o telling you. My refill came today in the form of Gianvi as opposed to Yaz. I thought they sent me the wrong thing…I didn’t even know there was a generic form. It should be the patients decision. I may just switch all together now. It says it is manufactured in Israel??? What sort of standards do they have over there. It is a little scary to me.
Alison
Don’t worry. It’s the Same drug it is just as effective. I got it in the mail and I didn’t know what it was until I read the active ingredients and realized it was yaz.
Amy
I’m ecstatic to be paying $10 instead of $35. It really irritates me that all birth control pills carry the same side effects, yet when Yaz announced possible side effects the public acted like this was “new” information. Wish this country wasn’t so sue happy. That’s a huge cause of why prescriptions and health care are outrageously expensive.
Ellen
I also was just given Gianvi by my local pharmacy on a refill, as I had inquired about a generic prescription when I began taking Yaz. I’m also a little nervous about switching over (I was one of those people who had really horrible effects from other pills). However, based on my receipts, Gianvi costs less with my insurance ($10 copay vs my previous $30 copay), but more than Yaz without it. ($84.99 vs Yaz’s $76.99) And to the complainers out there, the pill is not the only method of birth control. No one’s making you buy it. There are many more methods of contraception that have been engineered so that just about anyone can use them – even pretty inexpensive ones. As for the stated theories on why it’s more expensive in the US – it’s most likely not a matter of trying to increase childbirth rates so much as a matter of what Americans will pay for it. It just came out – it’s not some freakish conspiracy to bleed Yaz users dry. Chill.
sally
It really pisses me off that they’ve had the generic of Yaz and haven’t been releasing it to make more money. It doesn’t surprise me but it pisses me off.
sally
Angry – That hasn’t been my experience. For me, the full price of Yaz was $70 and my co-pay was $20. I don’t know what the full price of Gianvi is but now my co-pay is $5, a substantial decrease me for.
Sue
Should I be concerned about my 16 year old daughter taking Yaz? After reading the information above about life-threatening injuries, such as stroke, heart attack, pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis, gallbladder disease and other complications, I have my concerns. I definitely would not want my daughter to acquire any of these problems because of Yaz. What can you tell me? My daughter would not accept the generic form of Yaz and had the pharmacist re-make the prescription.
tina
i just got gianvi ive never taken it before ive always taken yaz and im scared 2 take this new 1
Angry
It’s crazy that the price of the “generic” version of Yaz costs $76 dollars. Generics shouldn’t cost more than $25 dollars, still, Gianvi is the first generic that I know to cost only $10 less that the brand version of the same drug. As pioneer as Yaz is, it’s had the generic version in Argentina for less than $20 dollars, actually, for only $50 Argentine pesos you get the same contraceptive in Argentina. Why us in the United States have to pay so much for birth control? Do they want to increase childbirth rates? Isn’t it crazy that we’re paying $76 dollars for something that offers the same level of prevention against pregnancy as a condom and we’re also at risk of all the secondary effects? Pills shouldn’t cost more than $20 bucks to become affordable to all of us women who work, get paid less than men for the same job, and still we are the ones paying month after month for something that kills our libido!
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