Pfizer has withdrawn the sickle cell treatment voxelotor (Oxbryta) from all markets due to a higher than expected number of deaths reported. Clinical evidence showed that the benefits of the drug no longer outweighed the risks. The UK Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency issued a recall notice on 30 September, stating that emerging data suggested an unfavorable imbalance in vaso-occlusive crises and fatal events in patients treated with the drug. Pfizer instructed healthcare professionals to contact all patients currently prescribed voxelotor. The decision to withdraw the drug was made to ensure patient safety.
Source link
Sickle cell drug is withdrawn over safety concerns just months after rollout
