Miracle claims are being made for a new treatment for rheumatoid arthritis which stops the immune system attacking joints. Prof Jonathan Edwards at University College Hospital in London has found that destroying B-cells has produced dramatic remissions, with huge reductions in pain, other symptoms lasting months as a result of a single treatment with almost zero side-effects.  20 people with severe rheumatoid arthritis were treated, only 2 had no benefit, five had residual pain from previous damage, one took up gardening again for the first time in twenty years.

Vioxx is withdrawn from market on 1st October 2004, after concerns that long term use may lead to increased risk of heart attacks and stroke. However, those taking Vioxx are recommended to seek medical advice before ceasing the drug since the alternatives may cause greater health risks from ulcers. Celebrex is not affected by the health scare and can be expected to benefit in sales. Watch for more research to see if the problem with Vioxx is common to Celebrex too. If both are withdrawn it will be a great blow to people with chronic pain will will then find themselves at far higher risk of bleeding ulcers.
 
 Vioxx for arthritis pain has become a top competitor for Celebrex (also for arthritis pain) both outselling for a time the record-breaking sex performance drug Viagra. 

In early 2005, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced important changes for all non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) medicines, including CELEBREX and other prescription and non-prescription NSAIDs. The FDA requested that the safety information of all of these products include information about cardiovascular and gastrointestinal risks. Therefore, the FDA is requesting manufacturers of all prescription NSAIDs to include boxed warnings identifying these risks.

Celebrex was launched in January 1999 as a pain relief drug for arthritis. Over 3.2 million Celebrex scripts were issued in the first 15 weeks, overtaking the previous  Viagra record (3.1 million).  But does Celebrex work?  How does Celebrex work?  What are Celebrex side effects? 

Reminder of the 1918-1919 flu epidemic which killed 30 million. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome - Symptoms and Survival. Mutant virus warning given in 1998: Latest update: 30 June 2003 plus video 2010.