Oxbryta Linked to Serious Health Risks
In September 2024, Pfizer issued a recall of Oxbryta, a drug that the FDA had approved for use in treating sickle cell disease since 2019. Oxbryta was pulled from the market due to concerning data from recent studies and clinical trials that indicate use of the drug is associated with higher instances of death and vaso-occlusive crises (VOCs), which can lead to severe pain, infections, hospitalizations and death, when compared to patients who were not given the drug.
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About Oxbryta
Oxbryta is an oral tablet medication approved by the FDA in December 2019 to treat sickle cell disease for children and adults. In sickle cell disease, red blood cells (RBCs) sickle when abnormal hemoglobin releases oxygen and then clumps together to form rigid chains, making the RBCs change shape and break down more quickly. This often blocks blood vessels, and leads to lower numbers of red blood cells and thus less hemoglobin to carry oxygen around the body (together, causing vaso-occlusive crises, or VOCs). A VOC occurs when sickled red blood cells block blood flow, and thus oxygen, to organs and tissues, causing ischemic injury and pain to the organ supplied. VOC pain is described as sudden in onset, throbbing, and sharp, and can typically last 6-7 days before resolving.
Voxelotor, the active substance in Oxbryta, is supposed to improve the ability of hemoglobin to hold on to oxygen to inhibit RBC sickling, improve RBC deformability, and reduce whole blood viscosity; however, recent studies have revealed that voxelotor may be associated with a higher risk of death in patients who use it. The FDA has issued a warning to patients to immediately stop using Oxbryta and Pfizer has pulled the drug from the market. Pfizer has said, “. . .the totality of clinical data that now indicates the overall benefit of Oxbryta no longer outweighs the risk in the approved sickle cell patient population.”
Oxbryta Injuries
Living with sickle cell disease is hard enough without being additionally harmed by medication that was advertised to you or a loved one as a solution to pain. Cory Watson Attorneys is pursuing legal action against Pfizer and Global Blood Therapeutics, Inc. (the company that initially developed the medication) due to the companies’ failure to warn patients and consumers about the serious risks of injuries and death associated with Oxbryta. If you or a loved one experienced any of the following while or shortly after using Oxbryta for treatment of sickle cell disease, you may be entitled to compensation.
- Hospitalization due to:
- Higher incidences of VOCs
- Infection
- Stroke
- Kidney failure
- Death
How Do I Contact an Attorney to File an Oxbryta Lawsuit?
If you took Oxbryta and have suffered an injury, you should contact a Cory Watson product liability attorney for a 100% free case consultation. Our nationwide lawyers are accepting cases from all 50 states.
Call (877)-562-000 now or tell us about your case by filling out the contact form on the side of this page.
About Cory Watson Attorneys
Ernest Cory, Product Liability Attorney
Cory Watson Attorneys is a nationally recognized personal injury law firm with offices in Birmingham, Alabama; Memphis, and Nashville, Tennessee. The firm has recovered more than $4 billion for clients across the country. Cory Watson attorneys are frequently at the forefront of major class actions and multidistrict litigations involving dangerous pharmaceuticals and product liability and are often appointed to leadership positions in national cases. Firm practice areas include Personal Injury, Product Liability, Class Action, Asbestos, Business & Commercial Litigation.
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