Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 20, 1992 TAG: 9203200099
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
An estimated 1 million American women have silicone gel implants. But the safety of the devices is under review by the Food and Drug Administration, and the industry has observed a voluntary moratorium since it was sought by the FDA in early January.
While saying it would never again manufacture a silicone gel implant, Dow Corning promised to spend $10 million on research into the safety issue. And it said it would contribute up to $1,200 per patient, based on financial need, for any woman to have her implants removed if her doctor deems it necessary.
The company, whose implant business never has accounted for more than 1 percent of its revenue, already is beset with lawsuits potentially worth hundreds of million of dollars. The firm has $250 million in liability insurance.
Dow Corning, a Midland, Mich., firm that is a joint venture of the Dow Chemical Co. and Corning, Inc., said it still is not aware of any proof that the gel-filled implants are unsafe. Some critics have blamed the devices for health problems that include cancer and autoimmune disease.
"I don't think it will be fair to say that Dow Corning was hounded out," Chairman Keith McKennon said at a news conference. "This is a decision that we have thought through very carefully as we considered the likely size of the future market, our relatively modest market share, and the even smaller size of this business relative to our other operations."
by CNB