Celebrex attorneys seeking plaintiffs

It is pretty obvious now that both Merck and Pfizer did all that they could possibly do to not let damaging information about Cox-2 drugs like Vioxx, Celebrex, and Bextra come out. In a series of reports published and reluctant admission by Merck, it is becoming clear that Merck either did not publish some data or purposely abandoned studies that had the potential to disclose adverse side effects of Vioxx.

Similarly, reports indicated that a 1999 clinical trial showed clear cardiovascular risks in elderly patients taking Celebrex. As late as October of 2004, however, in response to the Vioxx recall, Pfizer said that no studies had ever shown increased Celebrex-related cardiovascular risks. Now Pfizer has acknowledged that, in a 1999 study where Celebrex was tested as a treatment for Alzheimer's disease, patients taking Celebrex quadrupled their risk for a heart attack versus those taking a placebo. This study was not published until June of 2001, four months after the FDA conducted a safety review of Vioxx and Celebrex. (Related article: Pfizer reaffirms Celebrex safety)

Naturally, such disclosures help the cause of victims of Vioxx, Celebrex, and to a limited extent, Bextra, who have been demanding compensation for their suffering. While the trials are not going to be easy and Merck has vowed to aggressively defend itself in the Vioxx class action lawsuits, Vioxx and Celebrex lawyers are going ahead with recruiting plaintiffs and preparing for the lawsuits. (Related article: Tens of thousands of Vioxx class action lawsuits plaintiffs expected)

Manhattan personal injury firm Weitz & Luxenberg has launched an aggressive marketing campaign seeking patients injured by the arthritis and pain medication Celebrex. This highly respected law firm is joining a group of dozens of other law firms that have been advertising online as well as on television and in the print media to motivate the victims to come forward.
Personal injury law firms such as Weitz & Luxenberg are concentrating on the most serious Celebrex-related injuries; heart attacks, strokes, and death, paying particular attention to the dosage and frequency with which the drug was taken when evaluating potential lawsuits. These cases are relatively easy to win because it is much easier to prove how harm was done. It does not mean that someone who had only minor injuries can not join a lawsuit but they have a weaker case in phase one of the trials. (Related article: How to find the right attorney for drug recall and personal injury cases?)

In the firm's most recent television advertisement, a Celebrex tablet falls into a glass of water, which immediately turns murky. An announcer says, "Don't let Pfizer muddy the legal waters around Celebrex. Suppressed clinical trials prove it's dangerous medicine." In subsequent frames, tablets with the firm's name drop into the glass, and the water begins to clear. The announcer goes on to say, "Weitz & Luxenberg has already accepted cases and begun a landmark investigation." As the water becomes completely clear, the announcer concludes, "Be clear about your rights as a Celebrex user." (Related article: Tips on case review by an attorney)

In the meantime, Pfizer is already feeling the impact of revenue loss from Celebrex and Bextra. Since the recall of Vioxx, Pfizer has continued to stand by the safety of both Celebrex and Bextra though research has shown that they both have cardiovascular risks. The FDA has warned Pfizer for running misleading ads for Celebrex and Bextra and Kaiser Permanente has banned Bextra (after the FDA asked Pfizer to put a stronger warning on the label). Consumer rights group like Public Citizen have demanded that both Celebrex and Bextra should be recalled. The FDA and European Medicines Agency are meeting next week to decide the fate of all Cox-2 drugs including Arcoxia and Prexige.

In a related development, the New York Times is reporting that Pfizer is set to announce a major layoff at a meeting with analysts and investors in New York on April 5. Merck has already laid off over 5,000 employees after it recalled Vioxx in September, 2004. A spokesman for Pfizer, Andy McCormick, is quoted as telling the New York Times that the company was examining ways to cut costs but would not discuss specific plans until its meeting in April. "We have initiated a comprehensive review of our entire business, pharmaceuticals, consumer and animal health," he said, "looking for better efficiencies and streamlined decision making."

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