COX 2 inhibitor rejected in North America but retained in Europe

Doctors in the UK will continue to be able to prescribe the cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX 2) inhibitor Prexige (lumiracoxib) even though it has been withdrawn from the market in Canada and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has refused to approve it.

Health Canada, the government agency with responsibility for drug registration, reviewed the safety of the 100 mg dose of lumiracoxib, following the withdrawal of the 100, 200, and 400 mg doses of lumiracoxib from the Australian market in August (BMJ 2007;335:363 doi:10.1136/bmj.39311.635822.DB). On 4 October the department announced that it had withdrawn marketing approval of the …