Oxbryta Lawsuit
Case Update: The litigation is in the very early stages, and discovery has not yet started. As of now, no bellwether trials have been scheduled in the Oxbryta litigation. While an MDL (Multidistrict Litigation) may still develop if additional cases emerge, the legal proceedings are in the early stages. The consolidation of these cases into an MDP is anticipated but has not yet been formalized. An Oxbryta MDL would streamline litigation, prevent inconsistent rulings, and encourage global settlement while allowing individual cases to return to their original courts for trial if not resolved.
What is Oxbryta?
Oxbryta (voxelotor) is a prescription drug that was used to treat people with sickle cell disease (SCD). It offered a new approach to treating SCD, being a hemoglobin S polymerization inhibitor. It was designed to stop cells from sickling by addressing the root cause of SCD.
It came in tablet or liquid form and did not have a generic alternative. The drug was intended to decrease complications from SCD. SCD is a group of red blood cell disorders, which are inherited from a parent.
Oxbryta was supposed to keep red blood cells from sickling, reduce blood viscosity (stickiness), and keep red blood cells from changing shape (deformability). The active ingredient in the drug (voxelotor) binds to hemoglobin, stabilizing it to prevent clumping and maintaining normal red blood cell shape and flexibility. This process helps red blood cells flow more easily through blood vessels, reducing complications associated with sickle cell disease.
WARNING: Do NOT stop taking medication without first speaking to your doctor.
Oxbryta Manufacturer Announces Voluntary Global Withdrawal
On September 25, 2024, Pfizer initiated a global withdrawal of Oxbryta. Pfizer stated it was voluntarily withdrawing all lots of Oxbryta for the treatment of SCD in all markets where it is approved. Additionally, Pfizer announced it was suspending all clinical trials and worldwide expanded access programs.
The reason for this withdrawal was information received from the post-market clinical trials that indicated that the risks of Oxbryta outweighed the drug’s benefits. Particularly, Pfizer cited that the increased incidence of vaso-occlusive crises (VOCs) and fatal events led to its decision to pull the drug off of the market.
Oxbryta was not truly recalled. Instead, Pfizer issued a global market withdrawal. As soon as this occurred, the FDA issued a warning to Oxbryta users. On September 26, 2024, the U.S. FDA issued a warning statement about the dangers of Oxbryta. The statement alerted all patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals about the Oxbryta (voxelotor) market withdrawal. It advised patients to contact their physicians immediately to discuss new treatment options for their SCD. In the statement, the FDA also encouraged anyone who had experienced a VOC or other severe side effect to report it to the Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).
Why Are People Filing Oxbryta Lawsuits?
People who have experienced severe side effects and injuries after taking Oxbryta (Voxelotor) are starting to file lawsuits against Pfizer. These lawsuits allege the drug manufacturer failed to properly warn sickle cell anemia patients about the dangers of taking the drug. Instead of Oxbryta helping them fight the anemia associated with sickle cell disease (SCD), many people faced severe side effects such as: increased vaso-occlusive crises (VOC), stroke, organ failure (e.g., kidney failure), arthritis, and death.
The Lawsuits being filed against Pfizer and Global Blood Therapeutics (GBT) say the companies knew about this risks and failed to take the proper actions to warn patients. People who used Oxbryta (voxelotor) claim Pfizer and GBT failed patients and had they received proper information or warnings about the increased risk of VOCs, they may not have taken Oxbryta. In failing to properly inform patients, it is likely these companies have caused severe injuries and deaths. Lawsuits allege that despite trial and other data demonstrating severe risks, these companies kept the drug on the market and did not alert the proper authorities of their findings.
Who Is Eligible To File A Oxbryta Lawsuit?
People who took Oxbryta to treat their sickle cell disease (SCD) and then experienced severe complications may be eligible to file a lawsuit against the drug’s manufacturers, Pfizer and Global Blood Therapeutics (GBT). To be eligible to file a claim, you should be able to show that you or your loved one was prescribed Oxbryta to treat complications from SCD and suffered any of the following:
- A vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC) during or after Oxbryta treatment: painful blockages in blood vessels that restrict oxygen flow to tissues. Also known as “sickle cell crisis”.
- Organ damage or Stroke: risks of kidney failure, liver damage, and stroke due to repeated blood vessel blockages.
- Hemolytic Anemia Worsening: Exacerbated anemia symptoms as damaged sickle cells are rapidly destroyed, leading to fatigue and weakness.
- Leg Ulcers: poor blood circulation due to VOCs can lead to skin ulcers, particularly on the legs, posing further health challenges;
- Liver Problems: patients with sickle cell disease are already vulnerable to liver complications, and reports suggest Oxbryta may increase these risks
- Suffered a fatal event during or after using Oxbryta: an increased mortality rate observed in patients taking Oxbryta in post marketing studies.
Choose Brindisi, Murad & Brindisi Pearlman, LLP to Handle Your Oxbryta Lawsuit
At Brindisi, Murad & Brindisi Pearlman, LLP, we have decades of experience helping injured people recover compensation from responsible companies that manufacture and distribute dangerous medical drugs. If you were injured because of taking Oxbryta, contact Brindisi, Murad & Brindisi Pearlman, LLP, and you will find a dedicated legal team who will put their experience to work for you. Call us for a free consultation today.
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