In October of 2008, the FDA issued a warning letter to Yaz notifying the birth control manufacturer that two of its commercials made deceptive claims.
The ads in question included a commercial in which women were seen releasing balloons labeled with symptoms of PMS as “Good Bye to You” played in the background. The second commercial cited in the FDA warning letter is one that featured women punching, kicking and pushing balloons, which were also labeled with PMS symptoms, while the song “We’re not gonna take it” played.
In the warning letter, the FDA pointed to two specific claims made in the Yaz commercials that constituted deceptive advertising. First, the FDA said the ads implied that Yaz helps lessen or eliminate the symptoms of PMS when in fact the birth control is only intended as treatment for PMDD.
Second, said the FDA, the ads gave the impression that Yaz treats acne of all severity levels when, in actuality, it is only approved for the treatment of moderate acne.
In 2009, 27 state attorneys general joined together to file a Yaz false advertising lawsuit against Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, the maker of Yaz. As part of the lawsuit settlement, Yaz agreed to run a new ad to correct the misleading information contained in the offending two commercials.
Yaz is potentially more dangerous to women than other contraceptives due to specific ingredients contained in the Yaz pill. These two deceptive ads encouraged women to take Yaz for purposes other than birth control. Because Yaz became increasingly popular as a treatment for acne and PMS, more women were exposed to the risk of the pill’s life-threatening side effects. If you have been injured by Yaz, please call our lawyers today.
