Neurontin, an antiseizure drug manufactured by New York-based pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, is yet another highly prescribed medication with deadly side effects. Approved in 1994 by the Food and Drug Administration to help sufferers of epilepsy with pain and partial seizure prevention, Neurontin has been found to increase suicidal thoughts and actions among patients who use the medication. In fact, the FDA found a startling 80 percent rise in suicidal thoughts and behaviors in data from nearly two hundred studies conducted by the agency. These studies show Neurontin to be a harmful drug to a certain percentage of the population.
Last July, the first lawsuit against Pfizer went to trial. There are roughly 1200 other cases pending involving Neurontin. The most recent was brought to trial last week in a federal court in Boston, Mass., but both parties reached an agreement before the trial had ended.
Pfizer Inc. also announced that a settlement in a wrongful-death lawsuit was reached for an undisclosed amount on Monday. Linda Shearer, the plaintiff in the lawsuit, claimed her husband Hartley Shearer was prescribed Neurontin to control the effects of his paralysis and that his use of the drug caused him to commit suicide in 2002. The lawsuit also alleged that Pfizer promoted the use of Neurontin even though it was not approved by U.S. regulators and that Pfizer also knew of the suicide risks linked to the product but failed to warn consumers. While the exact details of the settlement are unknown, sources close to the case estimate the final number at no less than $400,000.
This settlement is another setback for Neurontin, a product with a history of legal woes and high-priced lawsuits. Last month, a federal jury found Pfizer guilty of violating an antiracketeering law by marketing Neurontin for off-label uses and awarded damages of $47 million, which is to be automatically tripled under the law. Pfizer said that it plans on filing an appeal and is currently pursuing a postmotion trial. The company also shelled out $430 million to settle a governmental investigation after pleading guilty to a criminal charge linked to the promotion of Neurontin.
