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Contingencies | 3 Months Ended
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Mar. 31, 2025
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] |
Contingencies | Contingencies Organon is involved in various claims and legal proceedings of a nature considered normal to its business, including product liability, intellectual property, and commercial litigation, as well as certain additional matters including governmental and environmental matters. Organon records accruals for contingencies when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount can be reasonably estimated. These accruals are adjusted periodically as assessments change or additional information becomes available. Individually significant contingent losses are accrued when probable and reasonably estimable. Legal defense costs expected to be incurred in connection with a loss contingency are accrued when probable and reasonably estimable. Given the nature of the litigation discussed in this note and the complexities involved in these matters, Organon is unable to reasonably estimate a possible loss or range of possible loss for such matters until Organon knows, among other factors, (i) what claims, if any, will survive dispositive motion practice, (ii) the extent of the claims, including the size of any potential class, particularly when damages are not specified or are indeterminate, (iii) how the discovery process will affect the litigation, (iv) the settlement posture of the other parties to the litigation, and (v) any other factors that may have a material effect on the litigation. Organon’s decision to obtain insurance coverage is dependent on market conditions, including cost and availability, existing at the time such decisions are made. Organon has evaluated its risks and has determined that the cost of obtaining product liability insurance outweighs the likely benefits of the coverage that is available and, as such, has no insurance for most product liabilities. Reference is made below to certain litigation in which Merck, but not Organon, is named as a defendant. Pursuant to the Separation and Distribution Agreement, Organon is required to indemnify Merck for liabilities relating to, arising from, or resulting from such litigation. Product Liability Litigation Fosamax Merck is a defendant in product liability lawsuits in the United States involving Fosamax® (alendronate sodium) (the “Fosamax Litigation”). As of March 31, 2025, the Fosamax Litigation comprises approximately 975 cases in Federal court, approximately 1,740 cases in New Jersey state court in Middlesex County, and approximately 275 cases in California state court. Plaintiffs in the vast majority of these cases generally allege that they sustained femur fractures and/or other bone injuries (“Femur Fractures”) in association with the use of Fosamax. All federal cases involving allegations of femur fractures have been transferred to a multidistrict litigation in the U.S District Court for the District of New Jersey (“Femur Fracture MDL”). In the only bellwether case tried to date in the Femur Fracture MDL, Glynn v. Merck, the jury returned a verdict in Merck’s favor. In addition, in June 2013, the Femur Fracture MDL court granted Merck’s motion for judgment as a matter of law in the Glynn case and held that the plaintiff’s failure to warn claim was preempted by federal law. The Femur Facture MDL court then dismissed with prejudice approximately 650 cases on these same preemption grounds. Following a series of appeals, including a U.S. Supreme Court decision in 2019, the Third Circuit ruled in September 2024 that plaintiffs’ failure-to-warn claims are not preempted by federal law. Consequently, 975 cases are now before the Femur Fracture MDL court for further litigation. On March 10, 2025, Organon filed a writ of certiorari to the U.S. Supreme Court seeking review of the Third Circuit decision. In New Jersey state court, the parties selected an initial group of cases to be reviewed through fact discovery, and Merck continues to select additional cases to be reviewed. In California state court, the cases have been consolidated before a single judge in Orange County, California, and discovery is presently stayed. Nexplanon/Implanon Merck is a defendant in lawsuits brought by individuals relating to the use of Nexplanon and Implanon™ (etonogestrel implant). There are two filed product liability actions involving Implanon, both of which are pending in the Northern District of Ohio as well as 56 unfiled cases involving Implanon alleging similar injuries, all of which have been tolled under a written tolling agreement. As of March 31, 2025, Merck had 19 cases pending outside the United States, of which 10 relate to Implanon and nine relate to Nexplanon. Governmental Proceedings From time to time, Organon’s subsidiaries may receive inquiries and may be the subject of preliminary investigation activities from competition and/or other governmental authorities, including in markets outside the United States. These authorities may include regulators, administrative authorities, and law enforcement and other similar officials, and these preliminary investigation activities may include site visits, formal or informal requests or demands for documents or materials, inquiries or interviews and similar matters. Certain of these preliminary inquiries or activities may lead to the commencement of formal proceedings. Should those proceedings be determined adversely to Organon, monetary fines and/or remedial undertakings may be required. Subject to certain exceptions specified in the Separation and Distribution Agreement, Organon assumed liability for all pending and threatened legal matters related to products transferred from Merck to Organon in connection with the spinoff, including competition investigations resulting from enforcement activity concerning Merck’s conduct involving Organon’s products. Organon could be obligated to indemnify Merck for fines or penalties, or a portion thereof, resulting from such investigations. Patent Litigation From time to time, generic manufacturers of pharmaceutical products file Abbreviated New Drug Applications with the FDA seeking to market generic forms of Organon’s products prior to the expiration of relevant patents owned by Organon. To protect its patent rights, Organon may file patent infringement lawsuits against such generic companies. Similar lawsuits defending Organon’s patent rights may exist in other countries. Organon intends to vigorously defend its patents, which it believes are valid, against infringement by companies attempting to market products prior to the expiration of such patents. As with any litigation, there can be no assurance of the outcomes, which, if adverse, could result in significantly shortened periods of exclusivity for these products, potential payment of damages and legal fees, and, with respect to products acquired through acquisitions, potentially significant intangible asset impairment charges. Nexplanon On February 24, 2025, Organon received a Paragraph IV Certification Letter notifying the Company that Xiromed Pharma Espana, S.L. (“Xiromed”) filed an abbreviated new drug application (“ANDA”) to the FDA seeking approval to market a generic version of Nexplanon in the United States prior to the expiration of U.S. Patent Nos. 8,722,037 (The “’037 patent”) and 9,757,552 (the “’552 patent”), in 2027 and 2030, respectively. On April 2, 2025, the Company sued Xiromed in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey asserting that the filing of the ANDA infringed the ‘037 patent and ‘552 patent and triggering a stay of regulatory approval of Xiromed’s ANDA for up to 30 months. In June 2017, Microspherix LLC (“Microspherix”) sued Organon in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey asserting that the manufacturing, use, sale and importation of Nexplanon infringed several of Microspherix’s patents that claim radio-opaque, implantable drug delivery devices. Microspherix claimed damages from September 2014 until the patents expired in May 2021. In December 2023, the parties executed a settlement agreement, and the district court dismissed the case. Organon made its first payment of $35 million in December 2023, its second payment of $25 million in August 2024, and its final payment of $20 million in January 2025. Other Matters In addition to the matters described above, there are various other pending legal proceedings involving Organon, principally product liability and intellectual property lawsuits. While it is not feasible to predict the outcome of such proceedings, in the opinion of Organon as of March 31, 2025, either the likelihood of loss is remote or any reasonably possible loss associated with the resolution of such proceedings is not expected to be material to Organon’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows either individually or in the aggregate. Legal Defense Reserves Legal defense costs expected to be incurred in connection with a loss contingency are accrued when probable and reasonably estimable. Some of the significant factors considered in the review of these legal defense reserves are as follows: the actual costs incurred by Organon; the development of Organon’s legal defense strategy and structure in light of the scope of its litigation; the number of cases being brought against Organon; and the costs and outcomes of completed trials and the most current information regarding anticipated timing, progression, and related costs of pre-trial activities and trials in the associated litigation. The legal defense reserve as of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024 was $10 million and $7 million, respectively, and represented Organon’s best estimate of the minimum amount of defense costs to be incurred in connection with its outstanding litigation; however, events such as additional trials and other events that could arise in the course of its litigation could affect the ultimate amount of legal defense costs to be incurred by Organon. Organon will continue to monitor its legal defense costs and review the adequacy of the associated reserves and may determine to increase the reserves at any time in the future if, based upon the factors set forth, it believes it would be appropriate to do so.

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