On May 2, 2008, Pfizer Inc. tentatively settled more than 200 personal injury lawsuits over its painkillers Celebrex and Bextra, days before the first trial was scheduled to begin over allegations the painkillers caused heart attacks and strokes.

While the total amount of the settlement was not disclosed, one of the plaintiffs’ attorneys was quoted as saying each Celebrex suit received between $40,000 and $50,000, and each Bextra suit received around $200,000. Reportedly, Pfizer plans to resolve its Celebrex and Bextra lawsuits on a case-by-case basis, and is prepared to pay out as much as $500 million to resolve all claims.

Bextra is a painkiller withdrawn from the market after it was linked to unpredictable and life-threatening skin reactions. Celebrex is still available and marketed to arthritis patients, though one study linked the drug to an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allowed Celebrex to stay on the market after deciding the benefits outweighed its potential risks.

Source: Lee Howard, “Pfizer settles lawsuits over two top drugs,” Theday.com, May 3, 2008.