Oxbryta Lawsuit Settlement Terms Still Being Finalized

Final agreement could have an impact on settlement payouts offered in other Oxbryta lawsuits filed over similar VOC injuries linked to the recalled sickle cell disease drug.

Attorneys involved in a lawsuit over alleged injuries linked to the recalled sickle cell disease drug Oxbryta asked a federal judge for more time to finalize details of a potential settlement agreement, with the parties now scheduled to meet with the judge in March.

Oxbryta (voxelotor) was a Global Blood Therapeutics drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2019, as the first medication to address the root causes of sickle cell disease.

Although Oxbryta was supposed to improve hemoglobin levels, help blood cells retain more oxygen and prevent vaso-occlusive crises (VOCs), it soon became apparent that Oxbryta side effects may actually increase the risk of the very issues it was designed to prevent.

VOCs occur when red blood cells block blood flow, causing an inflammatory response that results in symptoms like pain in the chest, back and limbs, as well as fever. They can cause kidney failure, stroke and even death.

However, instead of helping to prevent VOCs, the manufacturers and the FDA received a higher-than-expected number of reports among Oxbryta users. This led to an Oxbryta recall in September 2024, as well as a number of Oxbryta lawsuits in the months to follow.

Each complaint involved similar allegations indicating Oxbryta worsened their condition and left them with severe, and sometimes fatal injuries due to an increased risk of the very condition the drug was designed to prevent.

In May 2025, Dana Ford filed one of the first Oxbrtya lawsuits against Pfizer and Global Blood Therapeutics, arguing that the manufacturers sold and promoted a defective medication that led to the death of her husband, Bruce Ford. According to the complaint, Ford began taking the drug in September 2022 and died in May 2024, after suffering a VOC and stroke.

A trial was originally set to begin on September 13, 2027, but last October the parties announced they had reached a tentative Oxbryta lawsuit settlement, indicating that they needed more time to finalize the deal.

Plaintiffs and defendants were scheduled to meet with U.S. District Judge Trina Thomson in the Northern District of California on February 12, for a case management conference to update her on their progress. However, the parties issued a joint status report (PDF) on February 6, asking the Judge to delay the case management conference for 30 days while the parties continue to work on finalizing the Oxbryta settlement.

“The parties are in the process of finalizing the formal settlement agreement, and have been in ongoing discussions to resolve a few final matters with respect to the formal agreement.”

– Diana Ford v. Global Blood Therapeutics Inc. Joint Status Report

An entry on the docket from the court clerk indicates that the case management conference has been rescheduled for March 19, 2026, with a joint case management statement due by March 12.

Oxbryta VOC Lawsuits

The settlement agreement reached is currently only involving Ford’s Oxbryta VOC lawsuit. However, the outcome could have a significant influence on Oxbryta lawsuit settlement negotiations for several other claims that are being pursued by former users of the now recalled drug.

Oxbryta lawyers continue to investigate potential lawsuits for individuals who were prescribed the drug for the treatment of sickle cell disease and developed any of the following side effects, injuries or severe complications:

• Vaso-occlusive crises (VOCs)
• Stroke
• Severe pain and swelling
• Death