Chantix Litigation Heats Up as Lawsuits are Filed

At least two lawsuits have recently been filed in federal court by users of the anti-smoking drug Chantix who suffered psychological side effects. The medication has been associated with an increased risk of suicide and unusual behavior, which been led to hundreds of reported deaths and severe injuries. Chantix lawyers expect that these are the first of many lawsuits that will be filed involving this drug, as other potential cases are being investigated throughout the country.

Chantix is a prescription drug manufactured by Pfizer Inc., which was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in May 2006. The unique anti smoking drug has varenicline tartrate as its active ingredient, which works by affecting nicotine receptors in the brain. This reduces nicotine cravings and helps people successfully quit smoking. However, over the past year the drug has been linked to a number of serious and potentially fatal side effects.

In November 2007, the FDA initiated a review of the medication after receiving reports of at least 39 suicide deaths among users of Chantix and nearly 500 reports of suicidal thoughts and behavior. Since that time, Pfizer has updated the warning label several times to add information about possible suicide side effects, and other psychological problems that have been associated with the drug.

The first known Chantix lawsuit was filed last week in the U.S. District Court in Indianapolis by Linda Collins, the widow of David Collins, who committed suicide in January 2008 after starting the medication in October 2007. Collins had no history of mental illness, and the litigation alleges that his death was caused by Pfizer’s failure to adequately warn about Chantix suicide side effects.

A second lawsuit in the emerging Chantix litigation was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania by Brian Kline, who was hospitalized in August 2007 as a result of an alleged drug induced manic and violent psychotic episode. He claims that Pfizer knew or should have known about the impact Chantix has on the brain, and deliberately excluded people with a history of mental illness from clinical trials.

During its first full year on the market in 2007, Chantix generated sales of $883 million and was expected to become a blockbuster medication for Pfizer. However, following the safety concerns which have emerged, many users have begun looking for safer alternatives to help them quit smoking. In addition, last month federal regulators indicated that Chantix should not be used by pilots, air traffic controllers or operators of commercial motor vehicles like trucks and buses.