Celebrex's Hidden Risks

"During the past 25 years, 1 in 5 medicines were found to have serious side effects that were not recognized at the time of marketing" - Journal of the American Medical Association

"We thought Celebrex was safe and the problem was just with Vioxx. The problem is more complex than we thought." - Dr. Richard Hayes, New York Cardiologist

Although Celebrex is now thought to cause dangers similar to Vioxx and Bextra, Pfizer has not recalled Celebrex from the market. However, those who have taken Celebrex and suffered severe coronary events such as strokes and heart attacks, or their families if the coronary event resulted in death, may have legal options to recover for damages.

Ironically, Celebrex dangers were demonstrated during a study conducted by the National Cancer Institute and paid for by Pfizer itself. In the study, called the Adenoma Prevention with Celecoxib (APC) trial, patients taking 800 milligrams a day of Celebrex had 3.4 times the risk of a severe coronary event as those given a placebo, while those taking 400 milligrams had 2.5 times the risk. The trial was halted after the risk factor was demonstrated.

It is also ironic that, according to The New York Times, in mid-2004 Pfizer was talking about financing research to show that Celebrex might actually help prevent heart attacks.

However, new evidence has emerged that may prove that Pfizer knew about Celebrex's risks... years earlier than the December 2004 revelations. After Vioxx was recalled from the market in late 2004, Pfizer released a statement that said, "the evidence distinguishing the cardiovascular safety of Celebrex has accumulated over years in multiple completed studies, none of which has shown any increased cardiovascular risk for Celebrex".

In February 2005, Pfizer acknowledged the existence of a 1999 study, designed to examine whether Celebrex could treat Alzheimer's disease, that found "the number of Celebrex patients suffering heart attacks was almost four times (3.6 times) that of those taking a placebo. In fact, the study found that 22 out of 285 patients taking Celebrex suffered heart attacks, strokes and other heart problems. Only 3 out of 140 patients taking a placebo had similar problems. Pfizer's own analysis found the difference statistically significant." (The New York Times). The study was never published and was not submitted to the FDA until several years later.

This hidden study is now considered a "smoking gun" on the risks of Celebrex. Bruce Psaty, co-director of the University of Washington's Cardiovascular Research Center, said:

"This study was completed in 2000, but we're just learning about it in 2005, and that's just unacceptable. How can physicians be expected to responsibly prescribe drugs to their patients if we don't know the true risks and benefits?"

The FDA's latest move was to issue a warning on January 9, 2006 to Pfizer "that television and print advertisements for its painkillers Celebrex and Bextra misled consumers. Five advertisements did not disclose side effects and other risk information and made 'unsubstantiated effectiveness claims'" (The New York Times). These ads include two television commercials and a 27-minute infomercial that omit any information on Celebrex's safety and risks.

With the FDA's recent actions on Vioxx, many experts believe it is only a matter of time before more serious efforts are taken to protect patients from Celebrex's dangers. As a December 18, 2005 New York Times editorial states: "...if Vioxx was risky enough for Merck to remove from the market, one wonders why Celebrex should not be yanked as well."

If you or a loved one have taken Celebrex and have experienced any side effects, including blood clots, heart attacks, strokes or even sudden death, contact us immediately at 800-966-4999 and see why our law firm has recovered over $100 million on behalf of our clients.

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