When Vioxx was first pulled off the market, I suggested that this would lead to what I termed a "Me-Too Drug Domino Effect" in which other drugs in the COX-2 class would also be at risk (see original Pharma Marketing News Op Ed piece: Vioxx Withdrawal and the "Me-Too Drug Domino Effect"

No sooner had I said this than bad news about cardiovascular effects of Bextra came out. Shortly afterward, of course, Celebrex was put under a cloud followed by naproxen. This is the classic Me-To Drug Domino Effect -- drugs in the same class will be suspect until proven innocent (naproxen especially may be a wrongfully accused victim).

[See the PHARMA-MKTING discussion thread on the Celebrex issue: Celebrex Problems -- What Should Pfizer Do?]

BTW, the Me-Too Drug Domino Effect can also be positive. This happens after the first blockbuster in the class comes out and gives the Me Too drugs a boost in sales right off the bat (perhaps this low hanging fruit inducement is why it is so difficult NOT to develop Me Too drugs).

Will Celebrex Crash and Burn?
At the end of this post I make a prediction about Celebrex based upon a unique analysis. But first, let's see what the "experts" say.

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