Searle said NDC sales data to be published later on Wednesday would show a
stronger performance by Celebrex than IMS Health figures. IMS Health said on
Tuesday that U.S. doctors had written 4,797 prescriptions for Vioxx in the first
ten days following its launch compared to 3,231 for Celebrex in the equivalent
period.
Full article follows:-
Searle , Pfizer attack Vioxx data
LONDON, June 9 (Reuters) - Monsanto Co pharmaceutical unit GD Searle &
Co and its marketing partner Pfizer Inc on Wednesday entered a war of words
with Merck & Co over rival painkillers Celebrex and Vioxx.
In a statement, Searle and Pfizer said trial claims by Merck that its Vioxx
product offered faster and more effective pain relief in patients who had
undergone dental surgery were based on "inequivalent" data and had resulted
in "erroneous conclusions."
"The Merck study compared the lowest recommended dose for Celebrex (200
miligrams per day) with the highest possible dose of Vioxx (50 miligrams per
day). Searle and Pfizer believe these data are misleading because the
maximum recommended daily dose of Celebrex in the United States is 400
miligrams," the companies said.
Vioxx and Celebrex are the first in a new class of pain killer dubbed "super
aspirins" which work by suppressing an enzyme, Cox-2, that causes
inflammation.
Celebrex was launched in the U.S. in January for pain linked to arthritis, and
Vioxx in late May. Vioxx was approved in Britain on Tuesday.
In the first head-to-head trial, published at a conference in Scotland, Merck
said Vioxx had faster onset of action than Celebrex, "significantly better" peak
efficacy and lasted for 24 hours compared with five.
"A more appropriately designed comparison trial requires the use of equivalent
effective doses of both agents," Searle Co-President and Monsanto Chief
Scientist Philip Needleman said.
"The reported Merck trial did not meet that scientific criterion," he added.
Searle said NDC sales data to be published later on Wednesday would show a
stronger performance by Celebrex than IMS Health figures. IMS Health said on
Tuesday that U.S. doctors had written 4,797 prescriptions for Vioxx in the first
ten days following its launch compared to 3,231 for Celebrex in the equivalent
period.
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