Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Johnson & Johnson plans to stop selling mesh implants used to treat pelvic collapse that have been linked to injury, triggering hundreds of lawsuits.

The company sent a letter Monday to judges in New Jersey and West Virginia who are overseeing court cases against the company. J&J says it plans to phase out four mesh products over the next four months. The mesh is used to treat pelvic collapse in women.

The Food and Drug Administration said last year the implants are associated with higher rates of pain, bleeding and infection than traditional surgery with stitches.

In January, the FDA ordered J&J and other companies to conduct rigorous safety studies of their products. J&J says it expects FDA to waive that requirement once it phases out the products.