Bextra Lawsuits
Bextra lawsuits against pharmaceutical
giant, Pfizer have gone forward since the U. S. Food & Drug
Administration (FDA) ordered Pfizer to recall the drug on April
7, 2005.
The FDA order came after a risk-benefit
analysis came back as unfavorable. Since the recall, Bextra lawsuits
have started to gain momentum as yet another COX-2 selective NSAID
inhibitor, within the same class as Vioxx, has been found to be
of danger to those who have taken the drug.
Vioxx lawsuits currently lead
the pack, though, since this drug has received more attention
over the past two years. A flurry of Celebrex
lawsuits is also expected to hit the courtrooms in 2007.
Like Vioxx, Bextra (valdecoxib) has been shown to have severe
and deadly side effects including heart attack, stroke and other
cardiovascular complications. Unlike Vioxx, Bextra has also been
connected to severe and deadly skin side effects such as Stevens
Johnson Syndrome (SJS) and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN). Both
SJS and TEN are rare immune-system skin disorders with a morality
rate of between 10 - 35 percent.
Bextra has been prescribed to millions of people over the years
for pain relief from arthritis, menstrual cramps and other injuries
and conditions. It has been estimated by a University of Pennsylvania
cardiologist that taking Bextra increases one's chance for heart
attack, stroke or death by 2.19 times, which far exceeds the other
COX-2 selective NSAID inhibitors. Approved for use in the U. S.
since November 2001, Bextra was first acknowledged to have risks
by Pfizer in October 2004. Two studies by Pfizer have shown that
those who have had coronary bypass surgery and take Bextra are
at a higher risk for heart attack and stroke.
After the recall was announced, attorneys in several class action
suits asked that all Bextra lawsuits in the country be moved to
federal court in New Orleans, Louisiana for consolidation and
management. The first Bextra lawsuit was filed on November 17,
2004, 6-months before the recall. The Bextra lawsuit was filed
in New York State Supreme Court on behalf of a New Jersey woman
who's 46-year-old husband died of a heart attack after taking
Bextra for 10 months.
In 2003, sales of Bextra exceeded $687 million. The FDA has been
criticized for keeping Bextra on the market so long. The FDA has
been additionally criticized since 10 scientists on its panel
that voted to let sales of Bextra resume, also had financial ties
to Pfizer according to the New York Times.
Bextra lawsuits will continue to gather momentum for the foreseeable
future. If you or a loved one has been injured because of Bextra,
it is important to contact a product
liability attorney who specializes in pharmaceutical liability
cases. The statute of limitations is different for each state,
so it is necessary to act promptly in order to avoid missing any
important deadlines.
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