Washington State

Office of the Attorney General

Attorney General

Bob Ferguson

A TV commercial for the Yaz birth control pill showed women singing “We’re not gonna take it,” while kicking and punching balloons printed with words such as “irritability,” “moodiness” and “bloating.” Alas, suggestions that the Yaz birth control pill could treat premenstrual syndrome and all severities of acne were exaggerated, say a group of 27 attorneys general. They announced today that Bayer Corporation will pay $20 million on an advertising campaign to correct misperceptions caused by its earlier marketing.

“Women deserve to know the truth about Yaz and the pill’s approved uses and risks,” Attorney General Rob McKenna said.

State attorneys general alleged that Bayer’s 2008 marketing of the oral contraceptive violated a 2007 settlement that concerned the marketing of Baycol, a drug used to lower cholesterol that was withdrawn from the market. That agreement prohibits Bayer from making false and misleading claims about any of its products.

In conjunction with other states, the Washington Attorney General’s Office filed documents today in King County Superior Court that adds new requirements to the 2007 judgment with Bayer. Read today's news release for more information.

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