Journal has good news, bad news for Celebrex

[leftchick]

http://www.nj.com/business/ledger/index.ssf?/base/business-0/1102403446309490.xml

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A study in a leading medical journal found Pfizer's Celebrex does not pose the same risk of causing heart attacks as Vioxx, the competing medicine Merck withdrew from the market because of safety concerns.

But in an accompanying editorial in the Annals of Internal Medicine likely to spur more controversy, two doctors recommend physicians not prescribe Celebrex and other similar medicines called Cox-2 inhibitors for patients at risk for heart disease. Researchers still don't know enough about the drugs, they said.


Celebrex and Bextra, both made by Pfizer, are Cox-2 inhibitors, the same class of medicines that includes Vioxx. The class is named for a specific enzyme blocked by the drugs. That enzyme is supposed to prevent ulcers and other stomach problems caused by conventional arthritis pain medicines.

Since Merck recalled Vioxx on Sept. 30, it is been unclear whether the same safety problems apply to all other Cox-2 medicines. Merck's study found taking Vioxx for 18 months doubled the risk of heart attack or stroke.