Pfizer to Pay $44 Million to Settle Chantix Lawsuit

Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer has reached a $44 million settlement in a class-action lawsuit concerning its smoking cessation drug, Chantix. The drug, approved by the FDA in 2006, was withdrawn from the market in 2021.

The lawsuit alleged that Chantix was contaminated with high levels of nitrosamine, a known carcinogen that may increase cancer risk. Plaintiffs also claimed Pfizer failed to adhere to good manufacturing practices, acted negligently, and violated consumer protection laws.

Pfizer denies fault, stating it "believes it did nothing wrong." The company agreed to the settlement to avoid the "uncertainties and expenses" of continued litigation. Individuals who paid for Chantix in the U.S. between September 2015 and September 2021 may be eligible for compensation if they can provide proof of purchase.

The drug was recalled in 2021 due to concerns about elevated levels of N-nitroso-varenicline, a nitrosamine impurity potentially increasing cancer risk with long-term use. Pfizer maintained that the benefits of quitting smoking outweighed this theoretical risk. This is not the first legal challenge for Chantix; prior lawsuits alleged severe mental health complications associated with the drug.