And what is it that they are, sir?

A 1999 trial in Alzheimer's disease patients that Pfizer sponsored but never published found an increased risk of heart problems in those taking Celebrex. And the National Institutes of Health ended a study in December after finding that high doses of Celebrex more than tripled the incidence of heart attacks and strokes in patients. "They are what they are," Dr. Feczko [President of Pfizer] said of those two trials. But "the overwhelming preponderance of evidence" indicates the drugs are safe, he said.

Over all, Pfizer has performed much less research on Bextra than on Celebrex, Dr. Feczko said. Most of the company's studies of Bextra have been short term, with many lasting only two weeks. As a result, Pfizer has less data to support its contention that Bextra is safe, he said. (NY Times)