Pfizer Sold Chantix Medication With ‘Dangerously High’ Levels of Carcinogen, Class Action Alleges

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Pfizer Chantix Class Action Lawsuit Overview:

• Who: Doug Houghton filed a class action lawsuit against Pfizer, Inc. 
• Why: The plaintiff alleges Pfizer knowingly sold misbranded drugs under the brand name Chantix that contained probable human carcinogens.
• Where: The class action lawsuit was lodged in Florida federal court.

Pfizer sold the smoking-cessation drug Chantix despite knowing certain batches contained “dangerously high” levels of the carcinogen N-nitroso-varenicline, a new class action lawsuit alleges.

Lead plaintiff Doug Houghton filed the class action complaint against Pfizer, Inc. on Nov. 12 in a Florida federal court, alleging violations of warranty and consumer laws. He is the latest in a string of consumers to lodge a legal complaint against Pfizer over the prescription medication Chantix, including class action lawsuits pending in New York and Pennsylvania. 

Houghton, a Florida resident, says he purchased the “defective and now recalled” Chantix medication from Walgreens.

Chantix is a prescription medication that contains the active ingredient varenicline, which is an ingredient designed to help individuals stop smoking. 

However, Houghton alleges Pfizer’s manufacturing process has caused Chantix to contain dangerously high levels of N-nitroso-varenicline, a carcinogenic impurity that was not designed to be in the medication, and which is classified as a probable human carcinogen.

Pfizer Issues Multiple Chantix Recalls, Says Class Action Lawsuit

Since the issue was made public, Pfizer has been forced to issue three recalls of the medicine in association with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

On July 2, the FDA issued an alert to patients and healthcare professionals as to Pfizer’s recall of nine lots of Chantix. On July 19, 2021, Pfizer expanded its recall to twelve lots of Chantix 

Later, on September 16, 2021, Pfizer expanded the Chantix recall once again to cover all lots of the product.

Houghton alleges Pfizer did not disclose the presence of the carcinogen in the medication, thus deceiving customers. 

“Defendant did not disclose the presence of N-nitroso-varenicline at all on the Product’s label, in the medication guide, or otherwise That is because N-nitroso-varenicline is not designed to be contained in the Product, and is in fact a harmful impurity contained therein. 

“No reasonable consumer would have chosen to purchase Defendant’s Product had they known that it contained harmful levels of a carcinogenic impurity, to wit N-nitroso-varenicline,” he says.

Houghton seeks to represent a class of United States residents who purchased Chantix, plus a Florida subclass.

He’s suing for breach of warranty, violation of Florida consumer laws, fraud, unjust enrichment, and negligent misrepresentation, and says the amount in controversy exceeds $5 million. He’s seeking damages, fees, costs, and a jury trial.

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The plaintiff is represented by Sarah N. Westcot and Andrew J. Obergfell of Bursor & Fisher, P.A. 

The Pfizer Chantix Class Action Lawsuit is Houghton et al., v. Pfizer Inc., Case No. 1:21-cv-23987-XXXX, in the U.S. District Court Southern District of Florida.

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