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Case Overview
Pfizer, Inc. is facing numerous lawsuits filed by consumers harmed by medications it manufactured. Medications involved include Depo-Provera®, Oxbryta® and Xeljanz®. Compensation from these lawsuits may help victims with medical expenses and other injury-related costs.
Key takeaways about Pfizer lawsuits
- Pfizer is facing hundreds of lawsuits filed by people harmed by its products.
- Depo-Provera, Oxbyta and Xeljanz are the subjects of the litigation, among other products.
Why is Pfizer getting sued?
Pfizer is facing numerous lawsuits related to various products, including Depo-Provera®, Oxbryta®, proton pump inhibitors and Xeljanz®. Some of the allegations being made include:
- Depo-Provera, an injectable birth control, was marketed without sufficient warning of an increased brain tumor risk with its use.
- Oxbryta, the recalled sickle cell medication, could cause a severe complication known as a vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC).
- Xeljanz, when taken in specific amounts, can increase the risk of fatal blood clots in the lungs.
Claims related to Depo-Provera
Depo-Provera (medroxyprogesterone acetate) is an injectable contraceptive given every three months. It prevents pregnancy by stopping ovaries from releasing an egg (suppressing ovulation). It also thickens the mucus in the cervix to prevent sperm from getting to the egg. Even though it is effective birth control, Depo-Provera can cause serious side effects.
Plaintiffs are filing lawsuits against Depo-Provera maker Pfizer, alleging the contraceptive caused patients to develop brain tumors known as meningiomas. Pfizer is being sued for not warning medication users about the risk of developing brain tumors. Lawsuits making similar allegations against Pfizer have been filed across the country.
Cases filed in federal courts have been consolidated for pretrial proceedings in a multidistrict litigation, MDL 3140, In re: Depo-Provera (DEPOT Medtroxyprogesterone Acetate) Products Liability Litigation, before the Honorable M. Casey Rodgers. It is expected that various state court actions will also simultaneously proceed to pursue cases for women who developed meningioma after taking Depo-Provera.
Claims related to Oxbryta
Oxbryta is a medication used to treat sickle cell disease (SCD) in young patients four to 11 years old. Clinical trials reported an increase in vaso-occlusive crises (VOC) in patients taking Oxbyta. VOC is intense pain caused by blocked blood flow and oxygen deprivation.
Pfizer voluntarily withdrew the drug from the market in September 2024 because of these risks. Lawsuits alleging safety risks and fatal events from using Oxbryta are currently being filed across the country.
Multidistrict litigation transfers similar lawsuits to a single court for coordinated pretrial proceedings. This is designed to increase pre-trial efficiencies for the courts by streamlining some of the processes. Plaintiffs’ cases may still proceed individually after the pretrial proceedings.
Claims related to Xeljanz
Xeljanz (tofacitinib) is a medication used to treat ankylosing spondylitis, ulcerative colitis and various forms of arthritis. Xeljanz can lead to severe side effects and may increase the risk of dangerous infections.
In 2019, the FDA issued a Black Box Warning of blood clots and other heart-related risks to the Xeljanz label. Xeljanz lawsuits are being filed against Pfizer, alleging that the company didn’t warn consumers about the increased risk of life-threatening blood clots in the lungs from using the drug.
Contact a medical drug lawyer
If you or someone you love experienced injury or death following the use of a pharmaceutical drug or product made by Pfizer, you may have a legal claim. Contact our medical attorney team via email or call 1.843.585.8567 today.
Frequently asked questions about Pfizer lawsuits
Are there other Pfizer lawsuits?
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach are suing Pfizer. They allege that Pfizer illegally misled the public about the effectiveness of its COVID-19 vaccine. The attorneys general also allege that the pharmaceutical company hid evidence linking the vaccine to myocarditis and pericarditis.
Previously, Pfizer also faced more than 300 Zoloft lawsuits claiming Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) caused birth defects in the offspring of women who took the drug while pregnant. A U.S. District Court judge in Philadelphia dismissed the cases in 2016 because of insufficient evidence. Motley Rice is no longer accepting Zoloft-related claims.
Who can file a lawsuit against Pfizer?
Anyone who suffered serious harm due to the use of the following Pfizer products may be eligible to file a lawsuit for damages:
- Depo-Provera
- Oxbryta
- Xeljanz
If you suffered injuries because you used one of these Pfizer medications, Motley Rice lawyers may be able to represent you and help you take legal action.
What claims and damages might be involved in a Pfizer lawsuit?
If you pursue and win a personal injury lawsuit against Pfizer, you could be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering and other costs. Speak with a medical drug lawyer to explore your legal claim options.
Our medical drug litigation experience
Motley Rice has held multiple leadership roles in legal actions filed to protect consumers' rights. Our medical drug attorneys understand pharmaceutical drug cases and their complex legal, medical and scientific aspects. We know how to litigate cases for plaintiffs harmed by corporate negligence and actions that put profits over people.
Our legal team has filed many prescription and over-the-counter drug lawsuits, including cases related to:
- Elmiron® (pentosan polysulfate sodium)
- Ozempic® (semaglutide)
- Syfovre® (pegcetacoplan)
- Wegovy® (semaglutide)
- Zantac® (ranitidine)
Read more on our medical drug litigation experience.
Do not stop taking a prescribed medication without first consulting with your doctor. Discontinuing a prescribed medication without your doctor's advice can result in injury or death. Depo-Provera, Elmiron, Ozempic, Syfovre, Wegovy, Zantac, Xeljanz and Zoloft remain approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Why is Pfizer getting sued?
Frequently asked questions about Pfizer lawsuits
Our medical drug litigation experience
About the Author
Nicholas V. Williams
Associate
Nicholas Williams represents people who developed health problems caused by defective medical drugs and devices, toxic exposure and environmental contamination.
- Sources
- Bloomberg Law. Pfizer Accused of Hiding Contraceptive's Brain Tumor Link (1).
- Bloomberg Law. Pfizer Faces Suit Over Recalled Sickle Cell Medicine Oxbryta (1).
- Cleveland Clinic. Depo-Provera® (Birth Control Shot).
- Cleveland Clinic. Proton Pump Inhibitors.
- Mayo Clinic. Depo-Provera (contraceptive injection).
- National Law Review. What is the Deal With Xeljanz Lawsuits?
- Neural IT. New Case Management Order for Proton Pump Inhibitor Lawsuits.
- Reuters. Kansas accuses Pfizer of misleading public about COVID vaccine in lawsuit.
- Reuters. Pfizer beats hundreds of lawsuits alleging Zoloft birth defects.
- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration. FDA is alerting patients and health care professionals about the voluntary withdrawal of Oxbryta from the market due to safety concerns.
- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration. FDA requires warnings about increased risk of serious heart-related events, cancer, blood clots, and death for JAK inhibitors that treat certain chronic inflammatory conditions.
- United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation. Pending MDLs.
- WebMD. Xeljanz (tofacitinib) - Uses, Side Effects, and More.