Pfizer wins ruling that may limit Celebrex suits

Last Updated: 2007-11-20 15:00:31 -0400 (Reuters Health)

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Pfizer Inc has won a U.S. court ruling that could limit the lawsuits claiming that its Celebrex painkiller caused heart attacks and strokes.

Judge Charles Breyer of U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California ruled on Monday that plaintiffs had not presented scientifically reliable evidence that Celebrex causes heart attacks or strokes when taken at a strength of 200 milligrams, according to court documents.

Most Celebrex patients are prescribed the 200 milligram dosage, according to Pfizer.

In federal lawsuits against the drug maker, more than 3,000 plaintiffs have said Celebrex caused heart problems.

"We are pleased with the decision of the federal court, which recognizes the lack of any credible evidence linking Celebrex, at its most common dosage form, with heart attacks or strokes," Pfizer General Counsel Allen Waxman said in a statement.

"We believe that this ruling will greatly limit the scope of this litigation," Waxman said, "and we intend to continue to vigorously defend the cases against us."

Paul Pennock, a plaintiffs' lawyer with Weitz & Luxenberg, said 500 to 1,000 of the plaintiffs were 200 milligram cases, but other, higher-dose cases were moving forward.

"The 200 milligram cases were never really a major component of the litigation for those of us who were leading the charge," Pennock said.

Celebrex is part of the Cox-2 class of painkillers that also includes two drugs no longer on the market: Merck & Co's Vioxx and Pfizer's Bextra.

Merck agreed to pay $4.85 billion earlier this month to settle most of the claims that Vioxx caused heart attacks and strokes in thousands of users.

Pfizer shares were up 11 cents at $22.82 in morning New York Stock Exchange trade.

(Reporting by Lewis Krauskopf and Justin Grant; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn)