Pfizer Agrees to FDA Request to Withdraw Bextra Cox-2 Inhibitor

NEW YORK - Pfizer Inc. said April 7 it had agreed to a request from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to halt sales of its Bextra (valdecoxib) Cox-2 pain reliever over fears the drug increases the risk of a potentially fatal skin reaction.

Pfizer said it disagrees with the FDA assessment, and would discuss with the agency the possibility of renewing distribution to physicians and patients. The withdrawal includes sales within Europe.

Bextra and other Cox-2 pain relievers were the subject of a February meeting of the Arthritis and Drug Safety and Risk Management Advisory committees, that was precipitated …