Pfizer wins court ruling on pain drug

Pfizer has announced that it has won a vital court ruling regarding Celebrex (celecoxib), its non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used to treat pain in arthritis and other patients.

The firm reports that a New York state court has ruled in favour of the firm on a key motion regarding litigation concerning the drug.

Supreme Court Justice Shirley W Kornerich ruled that plaintiffs in the trial had not provided the necessary reliable scientific evidence to prove that the compound can cause strokes and heart attacks at the most commonly prescribed dosage of 200 mg per day.

This view echoes that presented by in November 2007 by the US District Court of Northern California.

Allen Waxman, general counsel of Pfizer, said: “We are pleased with Justice Kornreich?s decision which, like the federal court decision, recognises the lack of any credible evidence linking Celebrex, at its most common dosage form, with heart attacks or strokes.”

He added that Pfizer believed these court ruling would limit the scope of lawsuits against the firm, while the company pledged to continue to contest the cases brought against it.

In March 2007, Pfizer won a patent challenge regarding Celebrex brought to court by Teva Pharmaceuticals.