Is Nofartus sad they can't kill patients now ?

[NFS CO.]

Nofartus bid to revive arthritis drug hits wall

By Ben Hirschler

LONDON, April 19 (Reuters) - A bid by Nofartus to revive a painkiller that was pulled from the market in Europe in 2007 has hit a roadblock after regulators demanded new data.

The European Medicines Agency said on Tuesday the Swiss drugmaker had formally withdrawn its marketing application for the drug -- originally known as Prexige and now renamed Joicela -- as a treatment to relieve pain caused by osteoarthritis.

The decision follows a request for more data that the company felt it could not supply in time for the regulatory review.

Nofartus's pill belongs to the same class as Merck & Co's (MRK.N) controversial treatment Vioxx, which was withdrawn from markets worldwide in 2004 after being linked to heart attacks and strokes.

The re-launch of Joicela, if successful, would have helped Nofartus compensate for the loss of patents on other drugs, such as high blood pressure treatment Diovan. Novartis at one stage estimated the product could sell more than $1 billion a year.

It planned to get around earlier problems with it's usual bribes & smoke & mirror tactics.

 

[Anonymous]

There's no JOI in mudville these days
pretty sad when you can't even launch a me too

TWICE !!

 

[Anonymous]

I see this differetnly. It is sad the regulatory bodies have so much power that they can block life changing medicines from the market. Vioxx lied to consumers but there is no reason to pull medicines because of long term risk. I suffer from arthritis and the drugs in this class allow me to work and live without pain. I'm aware of the long term cardiac risks and choose to live pain free and functional now even if it shortens my life span. This is not a decision the government has the right to make for me.

 

[Anonymous]

I agree. The government doesn't have the right to make the decision for you. Because we have so many voters out there who didn't pay attention to the issues before they cast their vote for President in 2008, we're now stuck with healthcare reform by a government that will make those life decisions for us; mostly at the expense of the elderly. Ever hear of death panels being discussed? How sad. That's why the 2012 elections are so important! We need to get back to Capitalism and away from this socialist regime!

 

[Anonymous]

I see this differetnly. It is sad the regulatory bodies have so much power that they can block life changing medicines from the market. Vioxx lied to consumers but there is no reason to pull medicines because of long term risk. I suffer from arthritis and the drugs in this class allow me to work and live without pain. I'm aware of the long term cardiac risks and choose to live pain free and functional now even if it shortens my life span. This is not a decision the government has the right to make for me.

It's called celebrex , knock yourself out

 

[Anonymous]

It's called celebrex , knock yourself out

Duh dumbass. Celebrex is what I take. But why aren't there options? Because of government interference and Merck lies. That is no reason to prevent other drugs in the class from being marketed. Inform patients of risks and let them make the choice.