One Year After Oxbryta Was Pulled from the Market, Settlement Talks Held for Some Lawsuits
One year has passed since Pfizer opted to pull Oxbryta, its once-promising sickle cell treatment drug, from the market. In the wake of that decision, litigation over the drug’s effects has progressed rapidly.
The pharmaceutical giant made the call to withdraw the drug in September 2024 following worrying results from Oxbryta’s clinical trials. Pfizer reported at the time that those trials showed a higher rate of vaso-occlusive crises (VOCs) among the group of patients receiving the drug, as well as a higher rate of deaths. VOCs are a painful complication where sickled cells block capillaries and blood vessels.
In those clinical trials, there were more deaths in the Oxbryta treatment group than in the group of patients receiving a placebo.
“Pfizer’s decision is based on the totality of clinical data that now indicates the overall benefit of OXBRYTA no longer outweighs the risk,” Pfizer said in a statement at the time.
In the year since, Oxbryta lawsuits have been filed by people who say they experienced debilitating symptoms and serious medical issues after taking Oxbryta.
Settlement Talks Begin for Some Oxbryta Lawsuits
This month, the Oxbryta lawsuits reached a key juncture. Settlement talks began for some Oxbryta cases that had been filed in California federal court and placed before Judge Trina Thompson.
Negotiations already taking place show that this litigation, which is relatively small, could be moving at a fast pace. If those negotiations are successful, they could resolve some cases for people who say they experienced debilitating symptoms and serious medical issues after taking Oxbryta.
Oxbryta Lawsuits to be Prepped for Trial if No Settlement Is Reached
If no settlement agreement is reached for some of the cases filed in California federal court, they may go to trial.
Multiple trial dates for cases have already been scheduled, with preparation for those potential trials continuing as settlement negotiations are held.
One trial is scheduled for June 2027, with another set for August 2027. If the litigation advances to that point, the outcome of those trials could be notable for other Oxbryta lawsuits.
Wins by people who have filed lawsuits could encourage Pfizer to negotiate a settlement for other cases instead of risking taking more before a jury.
