Stop-Smoking Drug Chantix Contains ‘Carcinogenic Impurity,’ Claims Class Action Lawsuit

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Stop-Smoking Drug Chantix Class Action Lawsuit Overview:

• Who: A Chantix user filed a class action lawsuit against the stop-smoking drug maker Pfizer Inc.  
• Why: In the aftermath of a recall, the plaintiff says that she and other Chantix users were exposed to “dangerously high levels of N-nitroso-varenicline, a carcinogenic impurity.”
• Where: The class action lawsuit was filed in New York federal court.

The stop-smoking drug Chantix contains “dangerously high levels of N-nitroso-varenicline, a carcinogenic impurity,” according to a class action lawsuit filed in New York federal court Thursday.  

Lead plaintiff, Roslyn Harris, wants to represent other Chantix users who were affected by a recall of 12 lots of the stop-smoking drug issued by Pfizer this summer. Harris accuses the drug maker of misrepresenting the safety of the product to consumers by failing to properly test Chantix for the “carcinogenic impurity” despite warnings from regulators.  

Harris, a New Jersey resident, says she started taking Chantix to stop smoking and ended up purchasing packs of the drug that was recalled on June 24. She says that she and other Chantix users would not have purchased the medication had they known it contained a cancer-causing impurity.  

Stop-Smoking Drug Chantix Recalled 

Indeed, Pfizer halted distribution of Chantix in June after finding elevated levels of a carcinogen in some lots of the popular anti-smoking drug. The recall was expanded in July to include a total of 12 lots that may contain unsafe levels of a nitrosamine, N-nitroso-varenicline — a carcinogen. 

The plaintiff contends that, at least three years prior to the recall, Pfizer was well-aware of the risk that the stop-smoking drug Chantix could be contaminated with the carcinogen.  

Harris accuses Pfizer of breach of warranty, fraud, unjust enrichment, and of violating New Jersey consumer protection laws. She wants to represent a nationwide Class of consumers who purchased lots of the stop-smoking drug Chantix that contained N-nitroso-varenicline, as well as a New Jersey subclass.  

Consumers Report Concerning Chantix Side Effects 

Since the drug was introduced, Chantix users have reported psychological side effects such as depression, aggression, homicidal tendencies, entertaining the thought of suicide, and even suicide attempts.  

Pfizer has faced a number of lawsuits by Chantix users and their family members who say that the drug caused severe depression and even resulted in suicide. Others have alleged that the drug caused severe psychological side effects, including blackouts that landed one Chantix user in jail.   

In 2009, the FDA placed a “black box” warning label on Chantix informing users that recent data showed the smoking cessation drug can cause depression, suicidal thoughts, attempted suicide, aggression and anger. 

The most recently filed Chantix class action lawsuit is seeking damages on behalf of those who purchased lots of the stop-smoking drug containing the cancer-causing impurity.  

Do you use the stop-smoking drug Chantix? Are you concerned about the recall? Tell us what you think in the comment section below.  

The plaintiff is represented by Andrew J. Obergfell of Bursor & Fisher, PA.  

The Stop-Smoking Drug Chantix Class Action Lawsuit is Harris v. Pfizer Inc, Case No. 1:21-cv-06789 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

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