Pfizer, Inc. has suspended the osteoarthritis clinical program for its investigational drug tanezumab following a request by the FDA based a several reports of tanezumab patients experiencing the worsening of osteoarthritis leading to joint replacement. To date, this adverse event has not been observed in non-osteoarthritis patient populations taking tanezumab.

The clinical hold includes the suspension of recruitment of new patients, the dosing of existing patients in the osteoarthritis program, as well as patients with osteoarthritis in other studies. The company is working with the FDA to determine a course of action in an effort to serve the best interest of patients.