Pharmaceutical giant Bayer announced Thursday agreed to pay $1.6 billion to settle nearly all claims filed in the United States over controversial birth control implant Essure. "The company will pay approximately $1.6 billion to resolve these claims, including an allowance for outstanding claims, and is in resolution discussions with counsel for the remaining plaintiffs," the German company said in a statement. "There is no admission of wrongdoing or liability by Bayer in the settlement agreements," the statement said. The non-hormonal contraceptive was discontinued in 2018 amid reports some women who used it suffered chronic pain and injury. cs/hs