Thursday 23 December 2004
Pfizer Response To Pharmac Statement
Pfizer New Zealand rejects PHARMAC’s statement in its entirety.
It is factually incorrect to say that Pfizer NZ is promoting the cardiovascular safety of Celebrex following “reports”
pointing to potential problems.
One clinical trial - in cancer patients using doses of 400-800mg/day- showed a signal for possible cardiovascular side
effects, while a similar trial did not.
Pfizer took the responsible step of proactively putting that information in the public domain as soon as it became known
on 17th December.
PHARMAC’s implication that there were known cardiovascular safety problems with Celebrex prior to 17th December is
simply not true.
Pfizer has halted direct to consumer advertising in the USA and NZ until we understand the trial data. Public safety is,
and always will be, our main concern.
ENDS