Pfizer to California Court: Celebrex is No Vioxx

LOS ANGELES - Pfizer Inc. has filed a brief in California, asking the judge overseeing the coordination of Vioxx cases there to sever any claims that also allege injury caused by ingestion of Celebrex. Anderson v. Merck & Co. Inc., et al., No. BC331454 (Calif. Super. Ct., Los Angeles Cty.).

The Objection to Coordination of Claims, which Pfizer filed Aug. 29 in Los Angeles Superior Court, says that allowing the Celebrex claims to proceed in the coordinated Vioxx proceedings would only perpetuate the filing of more cases.

'The perception created by a coordination proceeding for products liability actions that included …