Since Merck pulled its COX-2 inhibitor Vioxx off the market in September of 2004, the debate surrounding the safety of the entire COX-2 class of medications has become a central issue for patients, doctors, pharmaceutical companies, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the international medical community. The evidence of the increased risk of heart attack and other cardiovascular events when taking certain COX-2 inhibitors has called into question drug safety practices and drug testing on the whole.

Our position on the COX-2 class of medications, which comes directly from our Medical and Scientific Advisory Board, is as follows:

"Vioxx belongs to a class of drugs known as the COXIBS. Other examples include Celebrex, Arcoxia, and Bextra. Until more information becomes available, all COXIBs should be regarded as having the potential to increase the risk of adverse cardiovascular events. Patients with past and/or current heart disease, and those at serious risk of heart disease (e.g. diabetics), should check with their physician before continuing to take any of these medications."

Below are links to stories that follow the history of the ongoing COX-2 debate from around the web as well as the stories we have done here at SAA.