Judge Dismisses Pfizer's Zoloft Lawsuits

April 13, 2016

A federal judge dismissed a major portion of the lawsuits accusing Pfizer of failing to warn about possible birth defects associated with taking the antidepressant Zoloft during pregnancy, according to the FDAnews bulletin.

Judge Cynthia M. Rufe of the U.S. District Court for the District of Eastern Pennsylvania granted Pfizer’s motion of summary judgment in the multidistrict litigation, agreeing with the drugmaker that none of the experts who testified on behalf of more than 300 plaintiffs could establish a link between taking Zoloft and birth defects.

Rufe also took issue with the quality of evidence plaintiffs had submitted opposing Pfizer’s request for summary judgment.