SPOKANE, Wash. (Legal Newsline — Pfizer is facing a class action lawsuit alleging it knowingly sold Chantix despite the drug containing a human carcinogen.
Timothy Bleeker, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated, filed a complaint Nov. 14 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington against Pfizer Inc., alleging breach of express warranties, fraud and other claims.
Bleeker alleges in his class action that Pfizer has "misbranded" its drug containing varenicline sold under the brand name Chantix and that the partial nicotine agonist drug is "not of the quality" that the company represents. Specifically, Bleeker claims that Pfizer fraudulently sold and marketed Chantix knowing the drug contained a "probable human carcinogen," N-nitroso-varenicline, and began recalling its varenicline-containing drugs in July of 2021 after FDA testing.
He alleges that Pfizer's actions caused those trying to quit smoking to become exposed to carcinogens similar to those in cigarettes and that the company failed to disclose that the product contained N-nitroso-varenicline and other nitrosamines that can cause tumors and liver and kidney damage according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
The plaintiff and the class seek monetary relief, interest, trial by jury and all other just relief. They are represented by Deborah Nelson and Jeffrey Boyd of Nelson Boyd PLLC in Seattle.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington Spokane Division case number 2:22-CV-00277-TOR