Arthritis Drug Caused Woman to Develop Bleeding Ulcer, Suit Alleges

CHICAGO - A woman who recently filed suit against Pharmacia, the maker of Celebrex, claims that her use of the arthritis drug caused her to develop a bleeding gastric ulcer that required treatment in the emergency room. Jeanette Hardy v. Pharmacia Corp., No. 03-L-004752 (Ill. Cir. Ct., Cook Cty.).

The complaint, which was filed April 16 in the Cook County Circuit Court, states that the drug is defective and that the manufacturer failed to adequately warn consumers of the drug's ability to cause gastric ulceration.

Plaintiff Jeanette Hardy was diagnosed with arthritis of the right knee by her orthopedic surgeon, …