Pfizer Agrees
to Stop Selling Bextra
Toronto law firm McPhadden Samac Merner Barry today launched a national class action against Pfizer, the maker of the drug Bextra (valdecoxib). Both Pfizer Canada and Pfizer U.S. have been named defendants in the proceeding.
The lawsuit is on behalf of Canadians who have suffered negative effects, including heart attack and death, from taking Bextra.
Last Thursday (April 7), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration requested that Pfizer voluntarily withdraw Bextra from the market. Pfizer complied with that request the same day. Also the same day, Health Canada asked Pfizer to suspend sales of Bextra in Canada. Pfizer Canada Inc. agreed to do so.
Bextra is a COX-2, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Other COX-2 NSAID’s are Celebrex and Vioxx. Like the other drugs, Bextra was prescribed for the relief of the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis and the management of acute pain in adults. Bextra was also prescribed for relief of menstrual cramping. Pfizer is also the maker of Celebrex.
The plaintiff in the action is Mr. Jesse Voutour of Mississauga who was taking Bextra because of his degenerative back condition.
The amount claimed in the action is a total of $550,000,000.00. The claim is made by Mr. Voutour on his own behalf and on behalf of all those Canadians similarly affected.
Legal counsel for Mr. Voutour, Bryan C. McPhadden commented, “There appear to be serious problems with COX-2 inhibitors and it looks like Bextra is no exception.” Zoran Samac, another lawyer with McPhadden Samac Merner Barry added: “ If the manufacturers of these drugs knew about the potential dangers or failed to properly investigate the risks, they should be held legally responsible, particularly given the considerable profits made.”
McPhadden
Samac Merner Barry has commenced a class action against Pfizer
Canada Inc. and Pfizer Inc. of the United States. Attached is a copy of the issued
Statement
of Claim .
If
you or someone you know has suffered illness or death as result of
using Bextra you are invited to contact the law firm for a free
assessment of your case. For your convenience, you may
complete our free online Bextra assessment and we will then
begin assessing your ability to participate in the class action.
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