Using your car analogy in terms of Vioxx would be like saying that Chrysler has been successfully sued and is now paying fines and removing minivans from the market because some individuals had problems with them when they drove them consistently and regularly at 120MPH.

I have no problem with lawsuits against drug companies. I have problems with ridiculously high awards based upon little to no factual evidence. There is an add in the local paper today that reads

"Suffer a heart attack or stroke while taking CELEBREX, or BEXTRA or VIOXX? Diagnosed with mesothelioma? You may have a claim worth $250000+. Call 24hrs 1-800-928-0368"

Who paid for that?

anyway, regarding Celebrex... I'm sure you realize that aspirin wouldn't make it to the market today as a new drug. Fortunately it was developed long ago.


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posted on Tue, Apr. 04, 2006


COLON CANCER
Celebrex promising, but raises heart risks
Two studies found that the popular arthritis drug Celebrex may prevent colon cancer, but experts said heart problems were seen in those taking it.
By MARILYNN MARCHIONE
Associated Press

WASHINGTON - Is a drug that might lower the risk of colon cancer worth taking if it also raises the risk of heart problems?

That's a question people most likely to develop the deadly bowel disease may be asking after the latest research on the popular arthritis drug Celebrex was released.

Two studies found that the drug cut the chances of developing precancerous growths called polyps by 33 percent to 45 percent in people who already had such growths removed.

However, experts said the extra heart problems seen in those taking the drug mean that it can't be recommended for preventing cancer in people at average or slightly higher risk.

''We are all concerned about cardiovascular events,'' said Dr. Nadir Arber of Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center in Israel, who led one of the studies.

Still, experts were excited by how much potential the drug showed for cancer prevention.

''It lays a huge foundation for the future.'' said Dr. Ernest Hawk of the National Cancer Institute, which paid for one of the studies.

It's an important issue -- more than 145,000 new cases of colorectal cancer and about 55,000 deaths from it are expected to occur this year in the United States.

Worldwide, more than 1 million cases and 529,000 deaths are projected.

The two studies were presented Monday at a conference of the American Association for Cancer Research.

They are the latest chapter in the saga of cox-2 inhibitors, painkillers that block a substance that causes inflammation and also are found in great supply in many tumors.

Aspirin also blocks this substance, and studies suggest that it, too, cuts the risk of colon cancer, but aspirin is very tough on the stomach and can cause bleeding problems.

Doctors hoped that cox-2 inhibitors would be better, but Celebrex is the only one still on the market; Vioxx and Bextra were withdrawn over safety concerns.

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-livin' in the terminally flippant zone