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 The decision late Tuesday from U.S. District Judge Cynthia Rufe in
the Eastern District of Pennsylvania said that plaintiffs had not
produced enough evidence to show a plausible scientific link between
the drug and birth defects, following several previous decisions
that excluded testimony from key expert witnesses for plaintiffs.
“The court recognizes that the final scientific verdict as to
whether Zoloft can cause birth defects may not be delivered for many
years,” Rufe wrote. “Nevertheless, plaintiffs chose when to file
their cases, and the court concludes that for the plaintiffs who
have continued to pursue their claims, the litigation gates must be
closed.”
The ruling affects more than 300 lawsuits against Pfizer
consolidated before Rufe in federal court.
A Pfizer spokeswoman, Neha Wadhwa, said the decision "affirms that
plaintiffs have failed to produce any reliable scientific evidence
demonstrating that Zoloft causes the injuries they alleged."
Dianne Nast, a lead lawyer for the plaintiffs, did not immediately
return a call for comment.
Pfizer had previously prevailed in two trials involving Zoloft
birth-defect claims in state courts in Philadelphia and Missouri.
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Zoloft is part of a widely prescribed group of antidepressants known
as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs. Plaintiffs
said that the company played down the birth-defect risks of the
popular drug in order to boost sales, while Pfizer denied it acted
improperly and said that a number of major medical groups, including
the American Heart Association, have supported its position.
(Reporting by Jessica Dye; Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi and Jonathan
Oatis)
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