Press Release

Suspension of sale of anti-inflammatory drug "Bextra" in HK

8 April 2005

In response to media enquiries on the request made by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the United States of the voluntarily withdrawal of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug "Bextra" by the drug company concern, a spokesman of the Department of Health (DH) today (April 8) made the following remarks:

DH refers to Pfizer (USA)'s advice that patients should stop taking Bextra and contact their physicians about appropriate treatment options. The advice was given in response to the concern of the increased risk of cardiovascular toxicity and severe skin reactions in patients taking Bextra.

In Hong Kong, the importer of Bextra, Pfizer Corporation Hong Kong Ltd., has agreed to immediately stop the sale of it which is a prescription-only medicine.

For the time being, members of the public who have been taking Bextra should stop using it and contact their doctors for appropriate alternative medication.

The DH is closely monitoring the outcome of review of the safety of Bextra.