Dermagic Journal of MEDermatology

 

Home Journal

January 2004

February 2004

March 2004

April 2004

May 2004

June 2004

July 2004

August 2004

                                                 SEPTIEMBRE 2.004

                                                 SEPTEMBER 2.004

 

THE FALL OF THE VIOXX (ROFECOXIB)

 

EDITORIAL ESPAÑOL:                                                  
=====================
Hola amigos de la red, HOY 30 DE SEPTIEMBRE DEL AÑO 2004, SE CUMPLIÓ una vez mas UNA DE LAS GRANDES VERDADES lanzadas POR EL DERMAGIC sobre LAS MOLÉCULAS COX-2. EL GIGANTE MERCK decide voluntariamente retirar del mercado mundial a una de sus MOLÉCULAS ESTRELLAS EL VIOXX O REFECOXIB.

LO MAS INTERESANTE DE TODO ESTO y lo mas importante para MI Dr. JOSÉ LAPENTA R DERMATÓLOGO,  AUTOR ESCRITOR Y EDITOR DEL DERMAGIC EXPRESS, es que MI VERDAD MI GRAN VERDAD sobre estas moléculas se EJECUTO casi 3 AÑOS DESPUÉS, REPITO, CASI 3 AÑOS DESPUÉS, pues el 15 de diciembre del año 2.001 hice este anuncio, las MOLÉCULAS COX-2 son dañinas y deben salir del mercado.

Resumiendo EL DERMAGIC EXPRESS FUE EL PRIMERO EN TODO EL MUNDO, en EL PLANETA TIERRA EN PRONOSTICAR EL FIN DE estas moléculas con casi 3 años de anticipación. Probablemente el AULIN (NIMESULIDE),  CELEBREX (CELECOXIB), VALDECOXIB (BEXTRA) Y PARECOXIB (DYNASTAT), las dos ultimas NUEVOS" COXIBS" estén temblando por esta decisión.

Particularmente NO ME IMPORTA YA EL DESTINO DE ESTAS MOLÉCULAS SENTENCIADAS PREVIAMENTE, pueden seguir en el mercado,,, LA CAÍDA DEL VIOXX RATIFICA todo lo que dije el 15 de diciembre del 2001. Son moléculas PROBLEMÁTICAS. Si usted quiere ingerirlas hágalo, es su salud y no la MIA la que esta en juego.

Felicito al laboratorio MERCK por haber tomado la decisión correcta y AL DERMAGIC EXPRESS pues gano otra batalla mas.

PERO quien responde por todas esas personas que murieron POR EL USO DE ESTA MOLÉCULA Y quien responde por los que seguirán muriendo por el uso de OTRAS MAS ????

Con este retiro del VIOXX queda escrita una vez mas la TRISTE Y COMERCIAL historia de muchas de las moléculas que están en el mercado, LAS CUALES SIENDO UNA TOTAL BASURA,,,,, siguen vendiéndose como arroz. !!!


Saludos a todos

Dr. José Lapenta R


ENGLISH EDITORIAL:
====================
Hello friends of the net, TODAY SEPTEMBER 30 OF THE YEAR 2004, it was COMPLETED once ONE OF THE BIG TRUTHS rushed BY THE DERMAGIC on THE MOLECULES COX-2. THE GIANT MERCK decides voluntarily to move away from the world market to one of its BIG MOLECULES THE VIOXX OR REFECOXIB.

The most INTERESTING OF ALL THIS and but important for MYSELF DR JOSE LAPENTA R DERMATOLOGIST, AUTHOR WRITER AND EDITOR OF THE DERMAGIC EXPRESS, is that MY TRUTH MI GREAT TRUTH on these molecules was EXECUTES almost 3 YEARS LATER, I REPEAT, ALMOST 3 YEARS LATER, because on December 15 of the year 2.001 I made this announcement, the MOLECULES COX-2 are harmful and they should leave the market.

Summarizing, THE DERMAGIC EXPRESS was in the entire world THE FIRST one, on THE PLANET EARTH IN PREDICTING THE END OF these molecules with almost 3 years of anticipation. Probably the AULIN (NIMESULIDE), CELEBREX (CELECOXIB), VALDECOXIB (BEXTRA) and PARECOXIB (DYNASTAT), this two last NEW "COXIBS", they are trembling after this decision.

Particularly I don't ALREADY CARE THE DESTINATION OF THESE MOLECULES SENTENCED PREVIOUSLY, they can continue in the market, THE FALL OF THE VIOXX RATIFIES all that I said December 15 the 2001. They are a DIRTY molecules. If you want to ingest them makes it, it is your health and not mine the one that is in game.

I congratulate to the laboratory MERCK to have made the correct decision and TO THE DERMAGIC EXPRESS because win another battle but.

BUT who responds for all those people that died FOR THE USE OF THIS MOLECULE AND who responds for those that will continue dying for the use of OTHER BUT ????

With this retirement of the VIOXX it is written once but the SAD AND COMMERCIAL history of many of the molecules that are in the market, THOSE WHICH being A TOTAL GARBAGE, they continue selling you as rice. !!!


Greetings to all

Dr. José Lapenta R

                                                         HOT LINK

 THE NIMESULIDE, VIOXX AND CELEBREX (COX-2 molecules) SHOULD BE RETIRED FROM THE WORLD MARKET.!!!   15 December  2.001 !!!

                          ALMOST THREE YEARS LATER....

=====================================================
REFERENCIAS BIBLIOGRAFICAS / BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES
======================================================
1.) Merck Announces Voluntary Worldwide Withdrawal of VIOXX®
2.) Merck retira ‘Vioxx’ del mercado por incremento del riesgo cardiovascular en uso prolongado.
3.) Merck retira Vioxx por riesgos cardíacos.
4.) Merck halts Vioxx sales.
5.) Merck Halts Vioxx Sales on Health Threats
6.) A Case of Rofecoxib-Associated Stevens-Johnson Syndrome With Corneal and Conjunctival Changes.
7.) Pfizer Affirms Celebrex Safety ???????????
=======================================================
1.) Merck Announces Voluntary Worldwide Withdrawal of VIOXX®

Source: https://healthorbit.ca/

[email protected] <[email protected]>

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J., Sept. 30, 2004 - Merck &. Co., Inc. today announced a voluntary worldwide withdrawal of VIOXX® (rofecoxib), its arthritis and acute pain medication. The company's decision, which is effective immediately, is based on new, three-year data from a prospective, randomized, placebo- controlled clinical trial, the APPROVe (Adenomatous Polyp Prevention on VIOXX) trial.


2.) Merck retira ‘Vioxx’ del mercado por incremento del riesgo cardiovascular en uso prolongado.

Source: www.correofarmaceutico.com/


La multinacional Merck, que opera como MSD en Europa, retiró ayer del mercado su fármaco superventas Vioxx (rofecoxib), inhibidor selectivo de la COX-2, indicado para el tratamiento sintomático de la artritis reumatoide y de la artrosis y comercializado como Ceoxx en España para el tratamiento sintomático del dolor agudo a corto plazo, por su riesgo incrementado de accidente cardiovascular grave en tratamientos prolongados.

Valvanera Valero


Los nuevos datos del perfil de seguridad del Vioxx se han obtenido en un ensayo clínico de rofecoxib frente a placebo para estudiar si previene la recurrencia de pó lipos colorrectales en pacientes con historia de adenomas colorrectales. A partir de los 18 meses de toma diaria de 25 mg de rofecoxib, los pacientes presentaron un número de eventos cardiovasculares superior a placebo (45 frente a 25).

La Agencia Española del Medicamento y Productos Sanitarios (Aemps) recuerda en una nota informativa de comunicación de riesgos de medicamentos para los profesionales sanitarios que “la seguridad cardiovascular de rofecoxib y de otros coxibs ha sido revisada en repetidas ocasiones por las agencias reguladoras nacionales desde la publicación del ensayo clínico Vigor, en el que se observó que rofecoxib, a dosis de 50 mg (entre 2 y 4 veces la recomendada) se asocia a un incremento de riesgo de infarto agudo de miocardio comparado con naproxeno, AINE no selectivo”.

Entonces, dice la Aemps, “aunque no pudo resolverse si este resultado se debía a un incremento de riesgo de rofecoxib o a un efecto protector de naproxeno, se procedió a modificar la información del medicamento dirigida a los profesionales y los pacientes para advertir de estos resultados”.

Posteriormente, según la agencia, se han publicado varios estudios donde se observaba un incremento de riesgo pero solo a dosis superiores a 25 mg.

La AEMPS insiste en que “los datos se refieren únicamente a rofecoxib y que no pueden generalizarse a otros inhibidores selectivos de la COX-2”. Y aconseja que aunque los riesgos detectados sólo ocurren tras un tratamiento prolongado (más de 1 año) con Vioxx, se recomienda la suspensión del mismo puesto que es fácilmente sustituible por tratamientos alternativos sobre los cuales el médico de familia podrá determinar la alternativa más adecuada a las necesidades de los pacientes.

Vioxx facturó en 2003 2.300 millones de euros en el mundo y desde enero de 2004, 20 millones de euros en España. En los últimos doce meses se han tratado en España 277.000 pacientes con el fármaco, aunque no necesariamente en uso crónico.

Actualmente Sanidad estima que podría haber entre 70.000 y 100.000 pacientes en tratamiento con este fármaco, que requiere como otros coxibs visado de inspección desde julio de 2002 en España. Ceoxx, sin embargo, no está cubierto por la seguridad social.

3.) Merck retira Vioxx por riesgos cardíacos.

Source: https://noticias.canalrcn.com/

Nueva York, EE.UU.(RCN) - La farmacéutica Merck hizo este anuncio tras los resultados de un estudio que confirmó un mayor riesgo de problemas cardíacos y de otro tipo en los pacientes que reciben este tratamiento.

Ante la divulgación de la noticia, las acciones de la empresa cayeron casi el 27 por ciento en el mercado de Nueva York, donde media hora después de comenzar la sesión se cotizaban en torno a los 33 dólares.

En un comunicado entregado a los medios de comunicación, la empresa indicó que
el estudio, llevado a cabo durante tres años, reveló un mayor riesgo de sufrir problemas cardiovasculares, como "un ataque cardíaco o un derrame cerebral", después de 18 meses de tratamiento en los pacientes que tomaron Vioxx que en los que tomaron placebos.


4.) Merck halts Vioxx sales.

By Rita Rubin, USA TODAY

Source: https://www.usatoday.com/

The maker of blockbuster pain reliever Vioxx said Thursday that it is voluntarily withdrawing the drug because of new data showing it increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

By Mike Derer, AP

This is one of the largest-ever withdrawals of a drug, says the Food and Drug Administration's Steven Galson. Drugmaker Merck (MRK) says 84 million people worldwide have taken the heavily promoted drug, available in the USA since May 1999. About 2 million Americans are on Vioxx, Galson says. "We have been concerned and aware of the potential for cardiovascular effects for the last few years," he says. "This is not a total surprise."

The news hit Merck's stock hard. It fell 27% to close at $33, wiping out $27 billion in market value.


In August, an FDA-funded analysis involving Kaiser Permanente patients found more heart attacks and sudden cardiac deaths among people taking Vioxx than among those on Celebrex or on conventional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and aspirin.

In November 2000, Merck published a study in The New England Journal of Medicine that found a higher rate of heart attacks in patients assigned to Vioxx than those assigned to naproxen (an NSAID sold as Aleve). Because of that finding, the FDA in April 2002 required a new warning on the Vioxx label.

Vioxx, Celebrex and Bextra are the three so-called COX-2 inhibitors on the U.S. market. Drugmakers say they treat arthritis pain but are less irritating to the gastrointestinal tract than traditional NSAIDs. At least two other COX-2 inhibitors — including Merck's Arcoxia, already sold in 47 other countries — are in the pipeline.

"It is important to note that the results of clinical studies with one drug in a given class are not necessarily applicable to others in a class," says Peter Kim, president of Merck Research Laboratories.

The implications of the Vioxx withdrawal for other COX-2 inhibitors aren't yet clear. Merck says the new data — from a three-year study comparing Vioxx with a placebo in 2,600 patients with colon polyps — showed a higher risk of heart attacks and stroke only after 18 months of use. None of the other COX-2 drugs have data for longer than a year, Galson says.

"It's too early for me to say right now how we're going to change our requirements for the future, but, obviously, we're going to be more interested in long-term data," he says.


5.) Merck Halts Vioxx Sales on Health Threats.

Source: https://www.abcnews.go.com/

Merck Pulls Vioxx Arthritis Drug From Market on Heart Attack, Stroke Concerns; Stock Plunges

The Associated Press

TRENTON, N.J. Sept. 30, 2004 — Merck & Co. is pulling its blockbuster Vioxx from the market after new data found the arthritis drug doubled the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Merck's stock plunged almost 27 percent as the pharmaceutical giant said the recall will hurt its earnings. Merck said Thursday the clinical trial data showed an increased risk of heart attack and other cardiovascular complications 18 months after patients started taking Vioxx, which also is prescribed for acute pain and disorders such as carpal tunnel syndrome.

The three-year study aimed at showing that Vioxx could prevent the recurrence of polyps, which can turn cancerous, in the colon and rectum was stopped after Merck discovered participants had double the risk of a heart attack compared to those taking a placebo.

By Thursday afternoon, at least one plaintiffs' attorney announced plans for a class -action lawsuit against Merck. Another claimed to represent 58 patients around the country allegedly harmed by Vioxx, including people who suffered a heart attack, stroke, internal bleeding or kidney failure.

"It's a disaster for Merck, coming at the worst time," said independent health care analyst Hemant Shah of HKS & Co. in Warren, N.J.

About 2 million people worldwide use Vioxx, Merck said, and 84 million have taken it since it came on the market with great fanfare in 1999. It is one of Merck's most important drugs, with $1.8 billion in U.S. sales in 2003 and global sales of $2 .5 billion 11 percent of the company's $22.49 billion in revenue that year.

But Vioxx sales dipped 18 percent in the second quarter of this year to $653 million, partly due to increasing concerns about an elevated risk of heart complications.

Medical experts advised patients Thursday to stop taking Vioxx and consult their doctor about alternatives.

Merck said the recall will slash about 50 cents to 60 cents a share from its earnings for the rest of this year. That includes foregone sales, writeoffs of inventory held by Merck, customer returns of product previously sold and other costs of the pullback. Merck expects foregone fourth quarter sales of Vioxx of $700 million to $750 million alone.

Merck, based in Whitehouse Station, N.J., had previously been expecting 2004 earnings per share of $3.11 to $3.17.

"We're taking this action because we believe it best serves the interest of patients," Ray V. Gilmartin, Merck's chairman, president and chief executive, said in a statement.

Shares in Merck, the world's third-biggest drug maker, plunged $12.07, nearly 27 percent, to close at $33.00 on the New York Stock Exchange. That wiped out $ 28 billion in market value. More than 140 million shares were traded, compared to a daily average below 10 million.

Shah said for Merck, the Vioxx withdrawal comes "at a time when they really need to get ready for expiration" of its patent for Zocor, the cholesterol treatment that is

Zocor loses patent protection early in 2006 and sales are expected to plunge against generic competition. In an effort to replace those revenues, Merck recently launched a drug with Schering-Plough Corp., Vytorin, that combines Zocor and Schering-Plough's Zetia to attack cholesterol levels in two complementary ways.

The Vioxx recall stands to benefit Pfizer Inc., the world's biggest drugmaker. Merck and Pfizer have been battling for market share, with Pfizer's Celebrex arthritis drug dominating the market with about $5 billion in U.S. sales alone last year. Pfizer shares were up 35 cents to $30.53 in afternoon trading on the NYSE.

Pfizer issued a statement Thursday citing the "outstanding long-term safety profile" of Celebrex and saying that in a recent FDA-sponsored study of 1.4 million patients, those who received Celebrex demonstrated no increased risk of cardiac trouble.

Vioxx was labeled with a warning about heart risks in 2001 after Merck's own study in 2000 uncovered the increased risk of heart attack and other complications. The Food and Drug Administration has been monitoring problems reported to it since then.

"This is not a total surprise," said Dr. Steven Galson, acting director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.

Dr. Steven Abramson, director of rheumatology at New York University Hospital for Joint Diseases, said "there are very few patients for whom there won't be a good alternative drug."

Besides generic anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, naproxen and aspirin, those include Celebrex, which Abramson said has not been linked to heart complications.

Celebrex and its successor drug, Bextra, as well as Vioxx and a successor drug called Arcoxia that is awaiting FDA approval, are part of a class of anti- inflammatory drugs touted by the pharmaceutical industry as being more effective and having less side effects, particularly on the gastrointestinal system, than older drugs.

Vioxx's removal will be a blow to hopes that it and other drugs in the class known as COX-2 inhibitors could be used to prevent cancer in people at high risk of developing it. A landmark study in 2002 showed that small, daily doses of aspirin could prevent colon cancer, and studies hinted that COX-2 inhibitors might do the same possibly without aspirin's side effects.

All COX-2 inhibitors can raise blood pressure, but Vioxx appears to be the only one that's been linked to higher risk of heart attacks and strokes, Galson said.

Merck is scheduled to release financial results for the third quarter, which ends today, on Oct. 21.

6.) A Case of Rofecoxib-Associated Stevens-Johnson Syndrome With Corneal and  Conjunctival Changes.

Cornea. 2004 Oct;23(7):736-737.

Goldberg D, Panigrahi D, Barazi M, Abelson M, Butrus S.

*Department of Ophthalmology, The Georgetown University-Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC; and daggerThe Eye Research Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.

PURPOSE: To report a case of rofecoxib (Vioxx(R))-associated Stevens-Johnson syndrome with corneal and conjunctival changes.

DESIGN: Interventional case report.

METHODS: Case report of a 62-year-old woman with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) taking rofecoxib for arthritis for 3 weeks. RESULTS: Stevens-Johnson syndrome after 3 weeks of rofecoxib therapy.

CONCLUSION: This case report suggests that oral rofecoxib may trigger Stevens-Johnson syndrome, potentially causing symblepharons, corneal neovascularization and cicatricial ectropions.

7.) Pfizer Affirms Celebrex Safety  ???????????

Source: https://healthorbit.ca/

[email protected] <[email protected]>

NEW YORK, September 30, 2004 -- In response to Merck & Co.'s
announcement today of the worldwide withdrawal of its COX-2 medicine Vioxx, Pfizer Inc issued the following statement:
 

======================================================================= 
DATA-MÉDICOS/DERMAGIC-JOURNAL /SEPTEMBER  2.004 / DR. JOSÉ LAPENTA
======================================================================= 

 

Produced by Dr. José Lapenta R. Dermatologist  
Maracay Estado Aragua Venezuela 2004-2026
Telf.: 04142976087 - 04127766810