Baycol Settlement Reached with 30 States
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Bayer Corp, the manufacturer of Baycol, has agreed to pay North Carolina and twenty-nine other states 8 million dollars in settlement of a claim alleging that Bayer failed to adequately warn consumers about the risk of taking Baycol, a cholesterol-reducing drug.
Bayer voluntarily withdrew Baycol from the market in August 2001.
Baycol, which was first introduced in the United States in February 1998, posed significantly greater health risks than other similar drugs, especially when taken in combination with another cholesterol-lowering drug and when taken in higher doses.
Although Bayer informed the U.S. Food and Drug Administration about these higher risks, it did not sufficiently warn consumers and doctors about potential problems. These potential problems included severe and potentially fatal muscle reactions leading to kidney failure.
Although Bayer did not admit any wrongdoing, it has agreed to post the results of its clinical drug trials and drug studies on the internet.
Under the agreement, Bayer is also prohibited from making false or misleading claims in connection with its marketing and sales efforts.
The thirty states which will share the 8 million dollars will use the funds for future consumer protection and enforcement programs.