2004 News articles

December 21, 2004
Pfizer finds heart risk with Celebrex drug
Published in USA Today
New concerns about arthritis drug Celebrex have surfaced following a long-term study in which people taking higher dosages showed greater risks of heart problems.

Pfizer comments on recent study results and recommends patients speak to their health care professionals

December 17, 2004
Health Canada issues Celebrex warning
Celebrex has been linked to increased cardiovascular risks when taken at daily doses of 400 mg and 800 mg in a study conducted by the US National Cancer Institute. Heath Canada advises Celebrex should not be taken for the prevention of recurrence of Familial Adenomatous Polyposis, and that patients on long-term 400 mg daily doses of Celebrex should discuss alternative therapies with their physician.

November 25, 2004
FDA PUBLIC HEALTH ADVISORY
Astra-Zeneca Pharmaceuticals has included warnings in its packages of Crestor bound for the European Union highlighting potential high-risk patients. This follows an assessment by the FDA that certain patients taking Crestor may be at an increased risk for serious muscle toxicity (myopathy).

October 12, 2004
New list helps Americans searching for Canadian drugs
US seniors and other consumers can now access a "safe list" of Canadian online pharmacies published by the trade association Canadian International Pharmacy Association (CIPA). The CIPA list features only provincially licensed, CIPA-certified Canadian mail order pharmacies.

September 30, 2004
Merck Pulls Arthritis Drug from Market
Merck and Co. is pulling its arthritis medication Vioxx off the shelves because it has been found to increase the risk of heart attack and stroke in clinical tests.

To view patient information from Merck, click:
Merck announces voluntary worldwide withdrawal of Vioxx

August 22, 2004
FDA statement on Vermont's Lawsuit
Published on medicalnewstoday.com
The State of Vermont and the Vermont Agency of Administration are going to court to back a citizens petition to import prescription drugs from Canada.

July 6, 2004
Canadian Drug Import Bills Divide U.S. Republications
Published on Bloomberg.com
Three republicans running for Congress have split with President George Bush over his opposition to importing drugs from Canada.

June 29, 2004
Big cost difference in health care plans
Published in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer
A comparison of the widely different health care plans offered by President Bush and Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry.

June 3, 2004
HEALTH CANADA ADVISORY
Published by Health Canada
Health Canada today issued a stronger warning about the possible negative impact of selected anti-depressants and Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors (SSRIs).

May 19, 2004
Seniors group files lawsuit over Canada imports
Broadcast on Minnesota Public Radio
A group of Minnesota seniors allege drug companies conspired to prevent US consumers from buying prescription drugs from Canada.

May 5, 2004
Head of nation's leading drug store chain calls for safe, legal drug importation
Published on Seniorjournal.com
The president and CEO of CVS/pharmacy called on Congress and the Administration to legalize the importation of prescription drugs to the US in a manner that is safe for consumers.

May 5, 2004
Drug benefits in limbo
Published in Idaho Mountain Express
Seniors advocates fear the new Medicare Prescription Drug Modernization Act, which takes effect June 7, may inadvertently raise the price of drugs.

April 8, 2004
Grassley introduces bill to legalize prescription drug imports from Canada
Published on www.senate.gov
Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley sponsored a bill Thursday that would allow US consumers to legally import prescription drugs from Canada.

March 16, 2004
Seattle considers buying drugs from Canada
Published on King5.com
In an effort to save millions of dollars a year, Seattle is the latest among American cities considering Canada as a conduit for prescription medication.

February 26, 2004
Lawsuit seeks legal reimportation of Canadian Rx
Published on businessinsurance.com
Ray and Gaylee Andrews have taken legal action against the US Government regarding the reimportation of Canadian prescription medications.

January 27, 2004
Why US drugs cost so much
Published on cnn.com
TIME Magazine investigates how prescription medication is made and sold in the United States, questioning true research and development costs as suggested by the pharmaceutical industry and further suggests that ".the FDA's actions against Canadian imports have been part of a concerted campaign to simultaneously discredit its counterpart agency in Canada."

January 20, 2004
Rhode Island mulls prescription drugs from Canada
Published on cnn.com
Rhode Island joins an ever-increasing number of states and municipalities developing plans to import prescription medication from Canadian pharmacies.

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