One of the worldâs largest research-based pharmaceutical company, Pfizer (PFE, Financial), is providing the public with a feeling of irony. On one hand Pfizer faces damaging litigations claiming the company had been less than cautionary regarding the lives of patients, and on the other hand it has developed an experimental drug that seeks to revolutionize the face of public health.
Lawsuit Against Pfizerâs Lipitor-statin Medication
The company became embroiled in controversy regarding one of its long-standing drugs, Lipitor. The drug, meant to treat high levels of cholesterol, has proven to be fatal to patients as it increases the blood glucose level. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that medication of this drug enhance the risk of developing hyperglycemia and Type 2 diabetes. Though the medicine is considered as one of the best-selling in the history of pharmaceutical industry for last 16 years, its severe side effect cannot be ignored. Particularly affected are women of post menopausal age who were diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes simply because of taking this medicine for a prolonged period of time.
The company has been charged with at least 100 product-liability lawsuits which claim that the company marketed this product despite having full knowledge about the side effects. The litigations accuse the pharmaceutical of ignoring adequate warnings regarding the possible side effects associated with the statin- medication.
âNumerous Lipitor lawsuits have already been filed against Pfizer by individuals who were allegedly harmed by this drug," assured Bernstein Liebhard LLP, âWe will be monitoring the progress of this whistleblower lawsuit very closely, as such cases often bring evidence to light that might be relevant in other claimsâ. The law firm has offered to give free Lipitor lawsuit reviews to anyone who may have developed Type-2 diabetes due to the use of this drug.
New Achievement of the Industry
Pfizer has much to explain regarding this gross oversight. However, that doesnât mean all is bad with this brand. No need to start sharpening our pitchforks just yet. In fact, Pfizerâs newest development may just redeem the company.
Experimental drugs may usher in a new era of cancer treatment, claims the leading pharma company. A new drug developed by the medical giant shows promising results in treatment of advanced stages of breast cancer. The new cancer drug, Palbociclib, administered with Letrozole in relevant dosages extend may prevent the tumors from worsening for up to 20.2 months, where as, Letrozole alone did the same it for 10.2 months.
How the drugs work
Pfizerâs Palbociclib is a cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 4 and 6 inhibitor that works by targeting the cyclin dependent kinase. The medicines attack the cyclin dependant kinase released after cell division in the diagnosed patients and keep them from spreading to other cells. Without the kinase, the disease cannot progress.
The drugâs potency has earned it âbreakthrough statusâ by the FDA and has prompted research to be proceed to late-stage testings and the drug has now started two phase III studies in advanced breast cancer patients, as well as, a study in treating patients who are at early stages breast cancer and have a high risk of reappearance of the disease.
Although the results werenât as revolutionary as could be hoped, it is still a step in the positive direction. This is clearly something praiseworthy and it could mean a new era in cancer treatment, not only breast cancer, but other forms too. Mortality rate in the US, and is the most feared. People living with cancer have to go through unimaginable conditions. Most never recover.
As of now, treatment of advanced stages constitutes mainly of chemotherapy, and really, itâs a lot to take for some people. After a point, one feels that it is doing more harm than good. What Pfizer proposes is revolutionary because it presents an oral drug that effectively checks the progression of cancer. It is a breakthrough, and researches hope this may be the first step to more effective drugs for treatment of the fatal disease. Palbociclib is expected to sell $3.11 billion in 2020.
Parting Thoughts
While Pfizer is set to take the world by storm with its new drug, the lawsuits filed make us wonder just how important is the health of an individual patient to the company. FDA first reams the company, and then raves about it. But one thing is for sure, Palbociclib is already garnering significant attention. And once it is in the market, Pfizer will surely benefit.
