Consumer Group Urges Ban of Celebrex

WASHINGTON – A consumer group urged the Food and Drug Administration on Monday to order the pain killers Celebrex and Bextra off the market.

Public Citizen charged that the two drugs from Pfizer Inc. increase the likelihood of heart attack.

Celebrex and Bextra are part of the family of drugs known as COX-2 inhibitors. Another drug in that group, Vioxx, was withdrawn last fall by its manufacturer, Merck & Co., because of heart problems.

Similar concerns have been expressed about Celebrex and Bextra, but they remain on the market.

Neither the FDA nor Pfizer responded immediately to requests for comment on Public Citizen’s petition.

COX-2 inhibitors have been widely popular for use as pain killers and anti-inflammatory drugs with fewer stomach and intestinal side effects than such products as aspirin.

Pfizer shares fell 22 cents to close at $24.26 in Monday trading on the New York Stock Exchange, up from a 52-week low of just under $22 in December.

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On the Net:

Public Citizen: http://www.publiccitizen.org

Food and Drug Administration: http://www.fda.gov