Chantix Lawsuits Heat up

Huntsville, ALYesterday lawyers involved in the consolidated Chantix litigation met with the Court for the first time. The agenda was to include discussion of how to manage the cases as well as the leadership structure for the multidistrict litigation (MDL).

The smoking cessation drug, which was granted approval in 2006, has been the target of much concern over its alleged link to increased risk of suicide and attempted suicide, aggression, behavioral changes and a number of other psychiatric issues and side effects. Some have suffered catastrophic injury and others have died as a direct or indirect result of their involvement with the prescription drug varenicline.

Chantix works by blocking nicotine receptors in the brain that release dopamine, the "feel good" chemical that contributes to the pleasurable feeling smokers experience. Nicotine serves as a stimulus to these receptors, but Chantix deprives smokers of the pleasure they long for and expect, which only adds to the intensive challenge any attempt to quit smoking normally involves. As a result, it is unclear how much of the aggression, suicide and other behavioral changes are due to Chantix versus the simple act of quitting.

Last June the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) mandated the issuance of a black box warning about potential psychological Chantix side effects, and ordered manufacturer Pfizer to further study varenicline and to conduct additional clinical trials with regard to neuropsychiatric issues.

Meantime, 34 Chantix lawsuits filed in federal district courts throughout the US were consolidated for pretrial proceedings before District Judge Inge P. Johnson in the US District Court for the Northern District of Alabama in October. In the ensuing months 41 additional Chantix lawsuits have been filed and transferred into the MDL, with the expectation that hundreds more will follow in the coming months.

According to AboutLawsuits.com, the cases involve allegations that Pfizer failed to fully research Chantix or adequately warn about the potential for side effects.

Chantix is only available by prescription and doctors have been urged to screen their patients carefully. In clinical trials, Chantix participants are said to have benefitted from regular counseling concurrently with their use of varenicline.