Celebrex exec sees role for drug

WASHINGTON – The head of the pharmaceutical company that produces the controversial arthritis painkiller Celebrex argued Sunday that the drug still had an important role to play in medical treatment despite a federal warning that its use could promote heart attacks.

“We need to put the cardiovascular risk in perspective here,” Pfizer Inc. chairman and chief executive officer Hank McKinnell said on ABC’s “This Week.” “For millions of patients, Celebrex is the best option, or in some cases, the last option to live a normal life with the pain and inflammation of arthritis.”

The company is leaving the drug on the market, he said, noting that a series of large studies had shown the risk presented by Celebrex was less than other treatment options.

McKinnell’s comments came just two days after the Food and Drug Administration issued a warning to doctors that the drug doubles the risk of heart attack and stroke. The FDA urged physicians to consider prescribing alternative medications and said it was contemplating tougher action against Celebrex, including more stringent warnings or banning its sale completely.