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Irresponsible Democrat Celebrex Claim Refuted

Tuesday May 13, 2003

A claim by Democrats deputy leader, Senator Lyn Allison, that doctors are inappropriately prescribing Celebrex instead of aspirin is irresponsible and wrong, the anti-arthritis medicine’s maker said today.

Pfizer Australia Medical Director Dr Craig Eagle said the claim, made in a media release today, should be disregarded by arthritis patients, especially those with gastrointestinal problems.

“There is clear scientific evidence that COX-2 inhibitors like Celebrex have less risk of causing gastrointestinal bleeding than the older anti-inflammatory medicines,” Dr Eagle said.

“The use of aspirin in arthritis is medically inappropriate because of the high doses required and the associated life-threatening complication of stomach bleeding.

“Aspirin was not considered appropriate treatment in published expert guidelines on arthritis management because of the serious risks it poses to the individual.”

Dr Eagle said Senator Allison’s claim that Celebrex is driving widespread PBS leakage has been refuted by the National Prescribing Service, the independent body that advises doctors on quality use of medicines.

(Leakage is defined as the use of a medicine that is listed on the PBS for other than the indications approved for reimbursement.)

In June 2002, NPS head Lynn Weekes told ABC-TV that off-label prescribing of Celebrex was not excessive. In an interview with Dr Norman Swan she said:

There may be a small amount of prescribing for sprains and strains which would be off-label,and that wouldn't be cost-effective. But, by and large, the prescribing appears to be for rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, which is part of their licensed indication .

Data from the Australian Medical Index’s GP panel (1 June to 31 December 2002) shows 89 percent of Celebrex prescriptions were for osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis (the current PBS approved indications), or conditions that may have been associated with osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.

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 Consumer Medical Information sheet may be viewed here.

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