OTTAWA (Reuters) Jul 07 - A Canadian expert advisory panel recommended
on Thursday that Merck & Co. Inc.'s arthritis drug Vioxx be allowed
back on the market despite the possibility of cardiovascular risks.

The panel also recommended that Pfizer Inc.'s rival pain medicine
Celebrex be allowed to stay on the market but that Pfizer's Bextra,
another arthritis drug, be kept off the market.

The panel met at the government's request last month to study the
risks of the three drugs, known as COX-2 inhibitors, following reports
of increased heart disease and stroke.

Merck voluntarily withdrew Vioxx from the market last September
because of concern about such reports.

On April 7, Pfizer Canada announced the suspension of its Bextra,
following the United States' lead. It continued to sell Celebrex, but
under restrictions.

The panel was unanimous on Thursday in recommending that Celebrex
continue to be sold. It said the increased risk of cardiovascular
disease was similar to that of other pain medicine while
gastrointestinal harm appeared to be less.

"Patients benefit from having a variety of drugs to choose from for
pain relief," the report said.

By a vote of 12 to 1, the body recommended that Merck's Vioxx be
allowed back on the market, for the same reasons. The lone dissenter
said evidence suggested that Vioxx had a higher risk of cardiovascular
harm than Celebrex, especially at higher doses.

The vote was 8 to 5 against the reintroduction of Bextra, in part
because there was not enough information available yet and because of
a possible risk of a rare but serious skin disorder.

The panel recommended that warnings about the risks of Celebrex and
Vioxx be added to the material given to patients.

Visit my website:
http://www.mzuschlag.com