Pfizer CEO Discusses Possible Return of Bextra, Prescription Drug Costs

The COX-2 inhibitor Bextra, which Pfizer... suspended from the U.S. market in April citing safety concerns, might return to the market, Pfizer CEO and Chair Hank McKinnell said in an interview with USA Today reporter Julie Appleby published Friday. In the interview, McKinnell also discussed prescription drug prices, pharmaceutical advertising and FDA regulation. Speaking about Bextra, McKinnell said, "I do know for many people it is the best option. ... We think with the appropriate safety program in place, there is a possibility it could be returned to market." McKinnell suggested that players "reframe" the health care system to focus on consumer health, education and disease prevention. In addition, McKinnell said that under the health care system's present structure, "large employers provide health care apparently free of charge to employees." McKinnell said, "Employees have the mistaken belief that someone else pays the bill. We need to make individuals more responsible for their own health care." He added that reducing mortality rates from cancer and heart disease by 10% would generate $10 trillion in savings through greater productivity and lower costs. McKinnell recommended that the U.S. government implement trade agreements that require foreign governments pay a "fair share" of drug research and development costs to "end the free ride" that other nations receive for U.S.-manufactured prescription drugs. McKinnell said he believes that the United States has the "safest drug supply in the world," but he added that the public must understand that "there is no such thing as an absolutely safe medicine" and that any drug "powerful enough to do good can also do some harm." McKinnell said the drug industry should be required to submit advertisements to FDA before they run. He added that voluntary regulation of drugs that are already on the market is "probably not good enough" and that safety and monitoring efforts should be linked to large databases (Appleby, USA Today, 5/20).


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