Both Vioxx and Celebrex are billed as
gentler than naproxen and ibuprofen -- both available over the counter -- but the withdrawal of Vioxx and Pfizer's Bextra put the category under a shadow and sales plunged. Now, Public Citizen charges
the new Celebrex ad lumps the risks of all drugs in the class together.
"The overall purpose of the ad is to make it appear, contrary to scientific evidence, that the cardiovascular dangers of Celebrex are not greater than" others, says Sidney Wolfe, director of the health group at Public Citizen. Thus, consumers may opt for Celebrex over "equally effective safer alternatives, such as (over-the-counter) naproxen." Pfizer says it will not pull the ad and says it is accurate.
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