A February 1, 2007 piece by Dr. John Dale Dunn (who has also written for our blog, HealthFactsAndFears) quotes ACSH's Dr. Gilbert Ross on fallout from the Vioxx case:
Gil Ross, M.D., medical and executive director of the American Council on Science and Health--a public health advocacy group based in New York City--has been watching the Vioxx case closely.
Though he declined comment on its legal subtleties, Ross pointed out, "since the news of the drug's cardiovascular risks broke, other studies have shown increased cardiovascular risk for the entire Cox-1 class of drugs" marketed under the trade names Motrin, Naproxen, and Aleve, to name just a few.
"Are the lawyers going to go after those drugs on the same theory applied to Vioxx litigation?" Ross asked.
Ross added that he supports Pfizer's decision not to withdraw Celebrex -- a similar, popular drug that has the same cardiovascular risks as those associated with Vioxx. Ross pointed out every drug, and most therapies, have risks and benefits.
"The Vioxx story is unfortunate," Ross said, "because it sacrificed rational medical decision-making to a litigation agenda and created public panic."
