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Pfizer continues to defends its controversial drug Celebrex

December 20, 2004

Despite the recent announcement that Celebrex has been linked to double the risk of heart attack and stroke, causing the National Cancer Institute to suspend a trial because of the dangerous effects, Pfizer Inc. is standing by its arthritis painkiller. According to Pfizer Inc. Chairman and Chief Executive Hank McKinnell, "For millions of patients, Celebrex is the best option, or in some cases, the last option to live a normal life with the pain and inflammation of arthritis."

McKinnell's comments came two days after the FDA issued a warning to doctors of the Celebrex heart attack and stroke risks, as well as urging doctors to consider prescribing alternative medications. The FDA says it is considering implementing more stringent warnings or banning Celebrex from the market.

FDA acting director of drug safety and recent whistleblower, Dr. David Graham, described the Celebrex side effects saying, "I would be very concerned." The Celebrex warning follows just 11 weeks after Merck & Co. announced it was withdrawing rival drug Vioxx from the market in the largest prescription drug recall in history. Vioxx was recalled after similar findings of heart attack and stroke risks were discovered in a study.

Problems with both Vioxx and Celebrex, part of the COX-2 inhibitor class of drugs, has raised questions about the entire class of painkillers. After the Vioxx recall, just two COX-2 drugs remained on the market- Pfizer's Celebrex and Bextra. The Public Citizen consumer advocacy group has been preparing a petition asking the FDA to immediately ban both Celebrex and Bextra from the market because of safety concerns.

For more information on Celebrex warnings, please contact us to confer with a Celebrex Lawyer and learn your legal rights and options.

 

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