Editing Pfizer (section)

===2011 Nigeria Trovafloxacin lawsuit settlement===
{{main|Abdullahi v. Pfizer, Inc.}}
In 1996, an outbreak of measles, cholera, and bacterial meningitis occurred in Nigeria. Pfizer representatives and personnel from a contract research organization (CRO) traveled to [[Kano (city)|Kano]] to set up a clinical trial and administer an experimental [[antibiotic]], [[trovafloxacin]], to approximately 200 children.<ref>{{Citation |last=Oldani |first=Michael |title=The SAGE Encyclopedia of Pharmacology and Society |date=2016 |pages=1444–1447 |chapter=Trovafloxacin (Trovan) Controversy |chapter-url=http://sk.sagepub.com/reference/the-sage-encyclopedia-of-pharmacology-and-society/i11727.xml |publisher=SAGE Publications Inc. |doi=10.4135/9781483349985.n409 |isbn=9781483350004 |access-date=2019-01-21}}</ref> Tests in animals showed that Trovan had life-threatening side effects, including joint disease, abnormal cartilage growth, liver damage, and a degenerative bone condition. Pfizer’s representatives did not alert the parents or patients about the serious risks involved, or tell them about an effective conventional treatment that Doctors without Borders was providing at the same site.<ref>{{cite web |title=Abdullahi v. Pfizer, Inc.- clinical trial |url=https://www.academia.edu/39569927 |access-date=30 January 2025 |website=academia.edu|date=January 2019 }}</ref> Local Kano officials reported that more than fifty children died in the experiment, while many others developed mental and physical deformities such as blindness, deafness, paralysis, and brain damage.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6768799.stm |last=Murray |first=Senan |title=Anger at deadly Nigerian drug trials |work=[[BBC News]] |date=June 20, 2007}}</ref> The nature and frequency of both fatalities and other adverse outcomes were similar to those historically found among pediatric patients treated for meningitis in sub-Saharan Africa.<ref>{{Cite journal |vauthors=Ramakrishnan M, Ulland AJ, Steinhardt LC, Moïsi JC, Were F, Levine OS |year=2009 |title=Sequelae due to bacterial meningitis among African children: a systematic literature review |journal=[[BMC Medicine]] |volume=7 |page=47 |doi=10.1186/1741-7015-7-47 |pmc=2759956 |pmid=19751516 |doi-access=free }}</ref> In 2001, families of the children, as well as the governments of Kano and Nigeria, filed lawsuits regarding the treatment.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/1517171.stm |title=Nigerians sue Pfizer over test deaths |work=[[BBC News]] |date=August 30, 2001}}</ref> According to ''[[Democracy Now!]]'', "[r]esearchers did not obtain signed consent forms, and medical personnel said Pfizer did not tell parents their children were getting the experimental drug."<ref name="DN">{{Cite news |url=https://www.democracynow.org/2010/12/17/wikileaks_cables_pfizer_targeted_nigerian_attorney |title=WikiLeaks Cables: Pfizer Targeted Nigerian Attorney General to Undermine Suit over Fatal Drug Tests |work=[[Democracy Now!]] |date=December 17, 2010}}</ref> The lawsuits also accused Pfizer of using the outbreak to perform unapproved human testing, as well as allegedly under-dosing a control group being treated with traditional antibiotics in order to skew the results of the trial in favor of Trovan. Nigerian medical personnel as well as at least one Pfizer physician said the trial was conducted without regulatory approval.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/06/AR2006050601338.html |title=Panel Faults Pfizer in '96 Clinical Trial In Nigeria |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=May 7, 2006}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/pfizer-bribed-nigerian-officials-in-fatal-drug-trial-ex-employee-claims/ |title=Pfizer Bribed Nigerian Officials in Fatal Drug Trial, Ex-Employee Claims |first=Jim |last=Edwards |work=[[CBS News]] |date=February 10, 2011}}</ref>

In 2007, Pfizer published a Statement of Defense letter, stating that the drug's oral form was safer and easier to administer. Trovan had been used safely in more than five thousand Americans prior to the Nigerian trial, and mortality in the patients treated by Pfizer was lower than that observed historically in African meningitis epidemics. No unusual side effects, unrelated to meningitis, were observed after four weeks.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 2007 |title=Trovan, Kano State Civil Case – Statement Of Defense |url=https://cdn.pfizer.com/pfizercom/news/trovan_statement_defense_summary.pdf |publisher=Pfizer}}</ref>

In June 2010, the US Supreme Court rejected Pfizer's appeal against a ruling allowing lawsuits by the Nigerian families to proceed.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/us_and_canada/10454982.stm |title=Pfizer-Nigeria appeal dismissed |work=[[BBC News]] |date=June 29, 2010}}</ref>

In December 2010, the [[United States diplomatic cables leak]] indicated that Pfizer hired investigators to find evidence of corruption against Nigerian attorney general [[Michael Aondoakaa]] to persuade him to drop legal action.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Boseley |first=Sarah |date=December 9, 2010 |title=WikiLeaks cables: Pfizer 'used dirty tricks to avoid clinical trial payout' |work=The Guardian |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2010/dec/09/wikileaks-cables-pfizer-nigeria}}</ref> ''[[The Washington Post]]'' reporter Joe Stephens, who helped break the story in 2000, called these actions "dangerously close to blackmail".<ref name=DN/> In response, the company released a press statement describing the allegations as "preposterous" and saying that it acted in good faith.<ref>{{Cite press release |url=https://cdn.pfizer.com/pfizercom/news/the_guardian_nigeria_120910.pdf |title=Pfizer Statement Regarding Article In The Guardian |publisher=Pfizer |date=December 9, 2010}}</ref> Aondoakka, who had allegedly demanded bribes from Pfizer in return for a settlement of the case,<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/in-defense-of-blackmail-why-shouldnt-pfizer-dig-dirt-on-crooked-pols/ |title=In Defense of Blackmail: Why Shouldn't Pfizer Dig Dirt on Crooked Pols? |first=Jim |last=Edwards |work=[[CBS News]] |date=January 4, 2011}}</ref> was declared unfit for office and had his U.S. visa revoked in association with corruption charges in 2010.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Michael Aondoakaa "Unfit" To Remain SAN, Says CDHR In High-Powered Petition |url=http://saharareporters.com/2010/07/19/michael-aondoakaa-%E2%80%9Cunfit%E2%80%9D-remain-san-says-cdhr-high-powered-petition |website=Sahara Reporters}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Wikileaks on Nigeria's Corrupt Oil Sales at NNPC, Shell, US Ambassador |date=December 12, 2010 |url=http://usafricaonline.com/2010/12/12/wikileaks-on-nigerias-oil-corruption-nnpc-shell-us-ambassador-attorney-general-aondoakaa/}}</ref>

The lawsuits were eventually settled out of court. Pfizer committed to paying {{US$|35 million}} "to compensate the families of children in the study", another $30 million to "support healthcare initiatives in Kano", and $10 million to cover legal costs. Payouts began in 2011.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Lenzer |first1=J. |title=Pfizer settles with victims of Nigerian drug trial |journal=BMJ |date=16 August 2011 |volume=343 |issue=aug16 3 |pages=d5268 |doi=10.1136/bmj.d5268 |pmid=21846712 |s2cid=8758603}}</ref>