Beasley Allen Believes Bextra Recall Was Long Overdue

The law firm is an outspoken leader in the call to remove Celebrex, Vioxx and other "Coxibs" from the market.

We are pleased with the FDA's decision to recall Bextra, and we can only hope that Pfizer acts responsibly and withdraws Celebrex as well

The FDA should have done this months ago considering all of the information they had access to

Their delay has put thousands of people at risk and that can't be justified. It is apparent that without the courts, the American people would have little hope when it comes to the regulation of the drug industry.

It is terribly unfortunate that it has taken over 4 months for FDA and Pfizer to do the right thing and recall Bextra

We can only hope that Pfizer acts responsibly and withdraws (this drug) as well

Montgomery, AL (PRWEB) April 7, 2005 -- "We are pleased with the FDA's decision to recall Bextra, and we can only hope that Pfizer acts responsibly and withdraws Celebrex as well," Andy Birchfield of Beasley Allen law firm stated in a press conference today.

Today, Pfizer (the manufacturer of Celebrex and Bextra) suspended sales of their arthritis drug, Bextra, following a recommendation from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Unfortunately, this move may have come too late for thousands of people that have suffered a heart attack or stroke while taking this medication.

Beasley Allen has been an outspoken leader in the charge to have all of the "Coxibs" - Bextra, Celebrex, and Vioxx - taken off the market since the law firm took on its first case against Merck over 4 years ago. Andy Birchfield, Beasley Allens lead Bextra litigation attorney, is spearheading the review of over 1000 cases, having filed 58 of those cases against Pfizer. "The FDA should have done this months ago considering all of the information they had access to," Andy Birchfield stated. "Their delay has put thousands of people at risk and that can't be justified. It is apparent that without the courts, the American people would have little hope when it comes to the regulation of the drug industry."

Despite numerous published studies which undeniably link the COX-2 inhibitors to greater heart-attack risks, strokes and even Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS), Pfizer has been unwilling to voluntarily pull its drugs off the market. In response to the publication of these studies, the FDA stated (December, 2004) that it was considering regulatory measures that could include severe label warnings or even requiring that Celebrex and Bextra be recalled in the United States. "It is terribly unfortunate that it has taken over 4 months for FDA and Pfizer to do the right thing and recall Bextra," Mr. Birchfield stated in the press conference today.

Vioxx was voluntarily recalled by Merck in August of 2004. Following todays announcement regarding the Bextra recall, Pfizer continues to manufacture the only remaining COX-2 inhibitor, Celebrex. "We can only hope that Pfizer acts responsibly and withdraws (this drug) as well," Birchfield stated.
            
If you would like to speak with Andy Birchfield, he can be reached at 800-898-2034.

Contact:
Andy Birchfield
Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles, P.C.
800-898-2034

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