Prexige anti-inflammatory drug is withdrawn

Quang Thinh

The Australian Drug Administration has ordered Prexige pharmaceutical recall, after discovering two patients died from using this drug. The recall has been notified to the 50 countries in which the drug is in circulation.

TGA ordered Prextige to be revoked after two patients died from the use of the drug (Photo: Novartis)

On August 11, 2007, the Australian Drug Administration (TGA) decided to revoke the anti-inflammatory drug Prexige, after verifying 8 cases of serious liver damage after using the drug. Two of them died and two more needed a liver transplant to preserve life.

Scientific name is Lumiracoxib , Prexige is produced by Novartis AG Pharmaceutical Company, based in Switzerland.

Novartis said it has announced a recall order for TGA to 50 countries using the drug.

Rohan Hammett, TGA's chief medical advisor, said: 'After the verification reports, we immediately informed the Pharmaceutical Safety Committee and the Committee met yesterday, August 10. / 2007. After the meeting, the Commission requested the withdrawal of Prexige immediately. '

Mr. Hammett said: ' Australia is the first country to recall this drug '.

As a generic drug with Vioxx (Rofecoxib) that was recalled in 2004, Prexige is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug - technically it is called Cox-2 inhibitor.

Novartis said it supports the TGA decision and says 'patient safety is of paramount importance' (Photo: Novartis)

According to TGA, about 60,000 people in Australia have used Prexige, a drug commonly prescribed for treatment in cases such as: chronic osteoarthritis, post-operative aches, pain related to teeth, and menstruation Sickness causes pain.

TGA has recommended patients who are using Prexige to look for alternative drugs and should get their blood tested early to check liver function.

"Since Voxx was withdrawn, pharmacists around the world have been monitoring this group of drugs very closely, and as a matter of fact, we acted very quickly," Hammett said . According to him, 'TGA is very worried and hope that Australians should be aware that they must immediately stop using this medicine'.

Novartis AG said it supports the TGA decision. Nick Kurstjens, who is in charge of Novartis ' science department, said: 'Of course the patient's safety must be considered paramount'.