• 16
  • May
    2011

A federal lawsuit recently filed in U.S. District Court in Pittsburgh claims that Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer was negligent in warning consumers of the risks of its quit-smoking drug Chantix. The lawsuit claims that the drug was responsible for making orphans of four children in Beaver County, Pennsylvania back in 2009.

Generically known as Varenicline, Chantrix was introduced into the U.S. market back in 2006. Sources say Pfizer has faced hundreds of complaints that the drug can cause suicidal ideation and lead to suicide attempts.

Police reports on the 2009 incident say that a 34-year-old man on Chantix shot and killed his 33-year-old wife and then shot himself. Both were found by a newspaper delivery woman dead in their front yard. Three of the couple's four children-then between 10 and 14 years of age-were apparently home at the time. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of the couple's four children and seeks damages for financial loss, emotional suffering and legal expenses. The suit alleges Pfizer was negligent in its design, testing, and promotion of Chantrix.

The man had reportedly been prescribed Chantix back in October of 2007 and had only been taking the anti-smoking medication for several weeks prior to his death.

Approved by the FDA in May 2006, Chantix became a popular product quickly, and Pfizer made over $60 million on the product in 2008. Several clinical trials have demonstrated that Chantrix increases the risks of serious injury and death. Sources said that the FDA had received 4,762 reports of serious psychiatric events, including 98 suicides.

Critics say Pfizer engaged in aggressive promotion of the medication, making use of consumer education and promotional messages to doctors which downplayed or omitted information concerning the potential side effects of the drug.

Source: consumeraffiars.com, "Chantix Left Four Children as Orphans, Suit Charges," James R. Hood, 13 May 2011.