Motley Rice, one of the nation’s largest plaintiffs’ litigation firms, has filed a multicount lawsuit against Global Blood Therapeutics, Inc. (GBT), alleging its prescription drug Oxbryta® (voxelotor) caused the tragic death of 39-year-old Marissa Harris in August 2021.
Oxbryta wrongful death lawsuit
The lawsuit, one of the first to be filed in the U.S. alleging wrongful death related to Oxbryta, is brought by Marissa’s mother, Marcia Smith, on behalf of her daughter’s estate. The lawsuit alleges Marissa’s death was caused by Oxbryta, which she had been prescribed to manage her sickle cell disease.
“We were devastated at the sudden passing of Marissa, and even more disturbed that her life-long battle as a warrior and champion living with sickle cell disease was shortened. This filing is a major step in our family’s healing process,” stated plaintiff Marcia Smith.
The complaint, filed in California’s Superior Court, alleges multiple causes of action including strict liability for design defect, failure to warn, negligence, breach of expressed and implied warranties, fraud, false advertising, wrongful death and violations of California’s Business and Professions Code and Civil Code.
The suit alleges GBT knew or should have known about the risks associated with Oxbryta but failed to adequately warn users and healthcare providers despite evidence of serious adverse effects. It further alleges the company made false and misleading statements about the medication’s safety and efficacy in the company’s marketing efforts while downplaying known dangers.
“This lawsuit is not only about seeking justice for Marissa — it’s about making sure that patients and families aren’t unknowingly harmed by dangerous drugs,” said Motley Rice attorney Laura Stemkowski. “GBT had a duty to protect patients, and we believe they failed to adequately warn about Oxbryta’s risks, leaving Marissa and many others vulnerable to its harmful effects.”
History of Oxbryta fatalities
Oxbryta was approved under the FDA’s Accelerated Approval Program, which allowed Pfizer subsidiary GBT to market the drug while clinical testing was still ongoing. However, Pfizer initiated a voluntary recall in September 2024 after increased fatalities and vaso-occlusive crises (VOCs) in test subjects and patients taking Oxbryta.
“I am fighting for Marissa’s memory and for the safety of others who may be at risk. There are far too many people in our community who require reliable sickle cell management options,” said Marcia Smith.
Motley Rice LLC is committed to seeking justice for all individuals harmed by unsafe pharmaceutical products, like Oxbryta, and holding companies accountable for their actions.
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Motley Rice has resolved some of the most complex and high-stakes civil cases in the country. In addition to prescription drug litigation, the firm also represents clients in matters related to: consumer fraud, whistleblower protection, wrongful death, asbestos and other toxic exposure cases, PFAS and other contaminations, securities fraud, antitrust, sex abuse, human trafficking and women who claim they developed reproductive cancers after using hair relaxer products and talcum powder.
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For more information about the Oxbryta litigation, contact Motley Rice attorneys Laura Stemkowski (SC) or Jennie Scudder-Levin (CA, SC).