Drug Makers May Not Conduct Ex Parte Interviews

ST. LOUIS, Mo. - A Missouri federal judge has refused to allow defendants in the NuvaRing multidistrict litigation to conduct ex parte interviews with plaintiffs' healthcare providers, explaining that there are other available methods for obtaining the information. In re NuvaRing Products Liability Litigation, No. 4:08MD1964 (E.D. Mo.).

In the March 20 order, U.S. District Judge Rodney W. Sippel also imposed limitations on plaintiffs' ex parte interviews with the healthcare providers.

Plaintiffs brought product liability claims against Organon Pharmaceuticals USA Inc., Organon USA Inc., Organon International Inc., Schering Plough Corp., and Akzo Nobel NV, alleging that the use of NuvaRing …