Dow Corning Ends Production of Gel Implants

The Dow Corning Corp., as expected, called it quits Thursday for the production of silicone gel breast implants, a business it pioneered and led for three decades.

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 already is beset with lawsuits potentially worth hundreds of million of dollars.

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.