Parties Agree to Postpone First Celebrex Trial

CLAYTON, Ala. - The first trial over claims that the arthritis painkiller Celebrex causes strokes, originally scheduled to begin June 6 in Alabama state court, has been postponed to give lawyers more time to gather information about the Pfizer Inc. drug. Ware v. Pfizer Inc., et al., No. CV-2005-040 (Ala. Cir. Ct., Barbour Cty.).

U.S. District Judge Charles R. Breyer, who oversees the federal Bextra/Celebrex MDL in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, requested the continuance, according to published reports.

The trial was to be the first Celebrex case tried in the country, but now it …