Kenneth L. Peterson, 76, and his wife Patsy, of Fort Madison, IA, filed suit in U.S. District Court, Des Moines, IA, against Pfizer, Inc., maker of the COX-2 inhibiting drug Bextra. Bextra was recalled in April 2005, due to its links to heart attacks and strokes in patients. Mr. Peterson began taking Bextra in September 2002 for pain resulting from torn ligaments in his knee. Less than one year later he suffered a stroke which paralyzed him on his left side, leaving him with trouble speaking and in need of constant medical care.

Mr. Peterson’s lawsuit claims Bextra was a defective product and that Pfizer, Inc., failed to include proper warnings in its medication labeling. The lawsuit also alleges negligence, misrepresentation and breach of warranty. Pfizer has sales estimated at over $1.3 billion from Bextra in 2004.

Source: “Fort Madison man blames Bextra for stroke,” Associated Press, August 1, 2005.