Nigeria filed new charges against Pfizer last night seeking $6.95 billion in damages over the deaths of children who received an unapproved drug during a meningitis epidemic.
The suit came after a separate court delayed until July two cases in which Pfizer is accused by the northern state of Kano of harming Nigerian children by testing them with the antibiotic Trovan in 1996.
Although the Kano state government case has been running for more than two years, yesterday was the first time the federal government filed its own charges.
Nigeria alleged in papers filed in the capital, Abuja, that Pfizer, the world's biggest drug maker, did not obtain approval from the relevant regulatory agencies and acted unethically when it tested the antibiotic in Kano.
After taking preliminary arguments from counsels to both parties, the judge adjourned the case to June 26th, for further hearing.
Pfizer denies the allegations.
