PFPC Daily - December 20, 2004

Germany Tells Some Patients to Stop Using Celebrex

Reuters - December 20, 2004

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Germany's drug regulator on Monday told
patients with cardiovascular risks to stop using Pfizer's arthritis
drug Celebrex after new data emerged linking it to an elevated risk
of heart attacks.

The drug regulator said in a statement it was not "justifiable" to
treat patients with a history of heart attack and stroke with
Celebrex.

The regulator urged the use of alternative drugs or to cut down the
dose if a patient cannot be treated without Celebrex.

Pfizer last week said Celebrex more than doubled the risk of heart
attack in a large cancer-prevention trial, a setback that comes just
weeks after Merck & Co. recalled its similar Vioxx drug due to heart
safety risks.

Pfizer said doctors should be made aware of the health risks in
prescribing Celebrex to their patients, but the company does not plan
to recall its popular arthritis drug.

Celebrex is one of Pfizer's biggest products, with 2003 sales of $1.9
billion.

SOURCE:
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=7141603