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Parker Waichman Alonso Mark LLP Believes New Study Confirms Ortho Evra is Associated with Increased Risk of Venous Thromboembolism Compared to Oral Contraceptive Pills


WEBWIRE

NEW YORK, February 23, 2007 – Parker Waichman Alonso Mark LLP (www.yourlawyer.com) announced today that they believe the results of a new study, which appears in the February edition of Obstetrics & Gynecology, confirms that the Ortho Evra transdermal contraceptive patch is more dangerous than oral contraceptive pills. The study, which analyzed United Healthcare insurance claims from April 2002 to December 2004, found a more than 200 percent increase in the rate of venous thromboembolism among women using Ortho Evra compared with those using a typical oral contraceptive pill.

Parker Waichman Alonso Mark LLP currently represents hundreds of clients who were injured while using the Ortho Evra birth control patch. The firm has cases pending in state and federal courts against Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical, Inc, a division of Johnson & Johnson, Inc. (NYSE:JNJ). For more information on Ortho Evra, please visit www.orthopatchlawsuit.com and www.yourlawyer.com/topics/overview/Ortho_Evra_Patch .

It is alleged that Ortho-McNeil was aware of the increased medical risks associated with Ortho Evra before the drug was approved and that, once approved, the company failed to adequately warn patients about these risks. Several studies have revealed that the risk of blood clots, heart attack and stroke associated with Ortho Evra is significantly higher than with oral contraceptive pills. The incidence of embolisms and thrombotic injuries in Phase III trials of Ortho Evra was reportedly six times greater than the incidence of such events in oral contraceptives using the hormone levonorgestrel. The FDA has logged 9,116 reports of adverse reactions to the patch in a 17-month period, whereas Ortho Tri-Cyclen, a birth control pill, only generated 1,237 adverse reports in a six-year period. During a 12-month period, 44 serious injuries or deaths have been associated with Ortho Evra, whereas only 17 such reports were linked to the birth control pill during a similar time period. The pattern is further magnified when usage rates are considered: Ortho Tri-Cyclen has six times the number of users as Ortho Evra.

About Ortho Evra
Ortho Evra is an adhesive, transdermal birth control patch that users are instructed to apply to their upper torso, upper outer arm, buttock or abdomen. The patch is intended to release 150 mcg of norelgestromin and 20 mcg of ethinyl estradiol into the bloodstream every 24 hours. It is replaced once a week for three weeks, and no patch is worn during the fourth week during menstruation. The regimen is then repeated. Ortho Evra was approved by the FDA in November 2001, and over 4 million women have used Ortho Evra since its approval. Ortho Evra continues to be marketed aggressively to both consumers and physicians.

About Parker Waichman Alonso Mark LLP
Parker Waichman Alonso Mark LLP is a leading products liability and personal injury law firm that represents plaintiffs nationwide. The firm has offices in New York and New Jersey. Parker Waichman Alonso Mark LLP has assisted thousands of clients in receiving fair compensation for injuries resulting from defective medications and medical devices. The firm is currently representing individuals injured by Kugel Mesh Hernia Patches, Fosamax, Vioxx, Bextra, ReNu with MoistureLoc, Guidant defibrillators, Risperdal, Seroquel and many other defective drugs and medical products. For more information on Parker & Waichman, LLP, please visit: www.yourlawyer.com or call (800) LAW-INFO.

CONTACT:

Parker Waichman Alonso Mark LLP
David Krangle, Esq.
(800) LAW-INFO
(800) 529-4636
info@yourlawyer.com
www.yourlawyer.com



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