Wednesday, September 28, 2005

Forbe's writes, "Forget Bextra"

Forbe's writes, "Forget Bextra": "Forbe's writes, 'Forget Bextra'


On November 10, 2004, according to Forbes Magazine, 'Pfizer was blindsided as The New York Times reported information about a reanalysis of old data that say the drug giant's Bextra, which is similar to Merck's Vioxx, increased the risk of heart attacks and strokes.'
However, one has to ask, how much of a blind side could it possibly be, when Pfizer receives that asdverse reports from doctors whose patients are having these side effects, such as heart attacks and strokes? Only time will tell how much Pfizer knew before. Looking back a month, Pfizer decided to update its warning. So it appears clear that they saw this coming.

While the link to strokes and heart attacks in all patients may not be clear at this point. It seems that it is only a matter of time. Forbes receommends that the 'executives should start thinking about Bextra as a lost cause, partly because it will make it easier for the company to defend Celebrex, which is Bextra's chemical cousin and one of Pfizer's best-selling drugs.'

Pfizer is sure to be pulled intot he mix as the FDA convenes a panel to look at all Cox-2 drugs. This may actually be a boon for Pfizer, who can narrow its focus on how Celebrex may be safer, as it does not take Cox-1 and Cox-2 as far out of balance with each other. It may be better, albeit having a greater risk of ulcers.

The information was release by Dr. Garret FitzGerald, a pharmacologist at the University of Pennsylvania, in a lecture he was giving here at the American Heart Association's annual meeting. However, it is not a detailed study, and only a retrospective looking back at data. Pfizer has already admitted that open heart surgery data showed an increased risk of heart attack and stroke in those patients. "

1 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

My name is Deborah Garson and i would like to show you my personal experience with Bextra.

I was in agony for 11 days after my doctor prescribed a muscle relaxer for intense lower back pain. A friend gave me sample packs of Bextra and the pain was gone within a half day of taking Bextra.

I hope this information will be useful to others,
Deborah Garson

11:56 PM  

Post a Comment

<< Home