SUMMARY

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Is the sky falling around COX-2 inhibitors?

After the fall of Vioxx, Merck is suffering mightily: 42% loss of market share, downgraded credit ratings, lost revenue, congressional scrutiny, etc. But worse still, the entire class of COX-2 inhibitors is under increased scrutiny and the credibility of Merck, the FDA, and the entire drug industry is in question as revelations about who knew what, when are announced almost daily.

This article documents the effect of the withdrawal of Vioxx and other COX-2 revelations on physicians' prescribing behavior using data from ImpactRx. Also included are results from a recent survey we conducted of Pharma Marketing News susbcribers regarding the wisdom of Pfizer's decision to test Celebrex to see if it is able to prevent heart attacks and strokes in patients with serious cardiovascular disease.

The article includes the following sections:

• The Me Too Domino Effect
• Trouble at FDA
• What About the Effect on Physicians' Prescribing Behavior
• Pfizer: Crazy or What?
• Survey Results
• Selected Comments from Respondents

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PMN310-05
Issue: Vol. 3, No. 10: November/December 2004
Word Count: 1758
TOPICS: Corporate Compliance/Government Regulation/Industry Guidelines | Strategy/Planning