Pfizer may have deceptively marketed Bextra to medical providers and consumers.

Ongoing investigation and a pending class action lawsuit against Pfizer on behalf of individual consumers and third-party payors who paid for the drug Bextra.

Bextra - which has been taken off the market due to side-effect concerns - was used to reduce pain, inflammation, and stiffness caused by osteoarthritis and adult rheumatoid arthritis. The class action lawsuit claims that through deceitful marketing, advertising, and promotion of Bextra as a superior product to other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) - which are much less expensive - Pfizer mislead consumers and physicians into using and prescribing it over the competition.

The class action complaint also states that the goal of Pfizer's marketing efforts was to convince medical professionals of Bextra's superiority in order to pressure insurance companies and hospitals to include Bextra on their formulary lists, thus ensuring the drug's success.

If you paid for or paid a co-pay for Bextra you may be eligible to be part of this suit.

Do not change medications without first consulting your doctor.