Oxbryta Settlement Reached by Pfizer To Resolve Vaso-Occlusive Crisis Lawsuit

If finalized, the Oxbryta recall lawsuit settlement will negate the need for a wrongful death trial scheduled to begin in September 2027.

The makers of Oxbryta indicate that they have reached an agreement in principal with a Tennessee woman, to resolve a wrongful death lawsuit alleging that side effects of the recalled sickle cell disease treatment caused the death of her husband.

Dana Ford first filed the Oxbryta lawsuit against Pfizer and Global Blood Therapeutics in May, indicating that the drug makers promoted and sold a defective sickle cell disease treatment that caused her husband, Bruce Ford, to experience a fatal vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC).

Following months of legal maneuvers, the parties filed a Notice of Settlement (PDF) last month, indicating that they have reached an agreement, but need additional time to finalize terms of the deal.

Oxbryta (voxelotor) was originally introduced by Global Blood Therapeutics in 2019, as the first medication to address the root causes of sickle cell disease.

The drug’s designers claimed it would improve hemoglobin levels in the body, helping blood cells retain more oxygen and preventing vaso-occlusive crises (VOC), which 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. These symptoms can lead to patients being hospitalized, in addition to kidney failure or stroke. As a result, many patients die following a vaso-occlusive event.

However, the manufacturers of Oxbryta and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) received a higher-than-expected number of reports of VOC problems among users, leading to an Oxbryta recall in September 2024. 

Now, some former users are pursuing Oxbryta vaso-occlusive crisis lawsuits, alleging that the drug worsened their condition and left them with severe, and sometimes fatal injuries, which is what Ford says happened to her husband.

After Ford filed the lawsuit in the Northern District of California, defendants attempted to have the case dismissed in July. A federal judge rejected that motion in late August, allowing the lawsuit to proceed, with a trial set to begin on September 13, 2027.

Defendants responded in opposition to the ruling, and hearings over the motion to dismiss were set to begin on October 14. However, the Oxbryta settlement notice was submitted just days before that hearing was supposed to take place.

According to the notice of settlement, the parties “are in the process of formalizing the settlement,” and requested the court give them 60 days to finalize the details. Once the deal is finalized, Ford will file a notice to dismiss the lawsuit.

The parties have not released any details on the proposed Oxbryta settlement amount, but the resolution may signal that additional claims brought by former users who suffered vaso-occulisive crisis injuries may be able to settle their claims with the drug maker without the need for a trial.

November 2025 Oxbryta Recall Lawsuits

As several other claims continue to proceed through pretrial proceedings, lawyers nationwide are continuing to investigate new Oxbryta 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

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