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Pfizer Australia Affirms Celebrex Safety

Friday October 1, 2004

In response to patient enquiries about Merck & Co.'s worldwide withdrawal of its COX-2 medicine Vioxx, Pfizer Australia has issued an assurance that its anti-arthritis treatment, Celebrex®, is safe.

"Pfizer Australia is confident in the long-term cardiovascular safety of Celebrex, based on a large body of clinical evidence,” said Pfizer Australia’s Senior Medical Director, Dr Bill Ketelbey.

”In a recent FDA-sponsored study of 1.4 million patients (Graham et al), those who received Celebrex demonstrated no increased risk of cardiac events.

"Six other very large clinical studies involving over 150,000 patients have shown no increase in cardiac risk with Celebrex, compared to background rates.

"The bottom line is that Celebrex is safe, but if patients are confused or have concerns about any treatment they should speak with their doctor.”

Pfizer Australia has a toll-free line 1800 675 229 for patients or health professionals with questions.

Celebrex was the first COX-2 inhibitor, a class of medicine designed to relieve pain without the serious gastrointestinal side effects associated with older non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines.

Celebrex (celecoxib) is indicated for symptomatic treatment of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, for the treatment of primary dysmenorrhoea in adults and for the reduction of adenomatous colorectal polyps in familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) as an adjunct to usual care, with precautions. Celebrex is PBS-listed for symptomatic treatment of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. It is not reimbursed for acute pain, soft tissue injury or arthrosis without an inflammatory component. The full text of the Consumer Medical Information can be viewed here.