Celebrex shows risk in study

Not long after Merck has removed Vioxx, Pfizer probably will do the same with its popular drug Celebrex. I used Celebrex at one time and it worked wonders for me. Seems like more studies are needed before releasing drugs instead of after.

NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Pfizer said Friday it suspended use of its popular painkiller Celebrex in a long-term cancer study because patients who used it over an extended time showed an increased cardiovascular risk.
Pfizer's rival Merck recalled Vioxx last September after a large trial showed that long-term use of Vioxx, which is in the same class of medicines as Celebrex, could cause heart attacks and stroke.

Merck is facing hundreds of lawsuits and potentially billions of dollars in damages from Vioxx.

At least three times since the Vioxx scandal, Pfizer issued statements affirming the safety of Celebrex.

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