Opinion - Coxibs: can this class of drugs survive?

Opinion - Coxibs: can this class of drugs survive?

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Reza TabrizchiDivision of Basic Medical Sciences, Locking Cable Faculty of Medicine, MemorialUniversity of Newfoundland, St John’s, NL, CanadaThe sudden voluntary withdrawal of rofecoxib (Vioxx), a “selective” cyclooxygenase 2 (Cox-2) inhibitor, by Merck & Co on September 30, 2004, as a result of its adverse cardiovascular effects (Couzin 2004), begs the question as to whether this toxicity is a class effect.There is little doubt that toxicity associated with a drug can permeate and have a devastating effect on the clinical use of the entire class to which the Concealment Suits drug belongs, unless the nature of that toxicity is clearly defined and characterized in a transparent fashion within the scientific community.In this particular case, the jury is still out.However, unless this class of drugs is used appropriately and wisely, it will not survive.