Law firm Beachcroft Wansbroughs has successfully defended Organon Laboratories Limited, the pharmaceuticals arm of Akzo Nobel, against a group action brought regarding third generation oral contraceptive pills.
The other two manufacturers were represented by Arnold & Porter.
The case, heard in the High Court, had been brought under the Consumer Protection Act (CPA) by a group of more than 100 legally-aided women who alleged that the third generation pills were more likely than older pills to cause venous thromboembolism (VTE) or blood clots in the veins.
The judge, the Honourable Mr Justice Mackay QC, halted proceedings 13 weeks into a trial scheduled to last for 21 weeks, indicating that he had heard sufficient evidence to determine the case.
Handing down judgment yesterday, the judge found that, as a matter of probability, there was no greater risk of VTE from third generation pills than any other combined oral contraceptive.
Beachcroft Wansbroughs litigation partner Wendy Hopkins said: "We are pleased that, after nearly seven years of scientific and legal controversy, we were able to help achieve this result for Organon and restore prescriber and consumer confidence in third generation pills.
"This is only the second occasion on which a claim of such magnitude against a manufacturer has been brought to trial. Whilst the CPA was subject to detailed review, ultimately the claimants failed at the first hurdle in terms of demonstrating that the products and associated warnings were defective."
