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Article: "Wonder drug" misuse blows out budget, says survey.
- Article from:
- Australasian Business Intelligence
- Article date:
- April 1, 2002
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2002 News provided by Comtex. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Apr 01, 2002 (The Australian Financial Review
ABIX via COMTEX) -- Possible over-prescription of the arthritis drug, Celebrex, is causing concern in Australia. Research by the National Prescribing Service (NPS) suggests that up to half the 240,000 patient doses in 2001 may have been for unapproved conditions under Australia's Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. Taxpayers subsidised Celebrex and its sister drug, Vioxx, to the tune of $A220 million in 2001. The NPS's evidence suggests that the drugs have been used to fight milder conditions, such as strains and sporting injuries. The producer of Celebrex, Pharmacia, denies any widespread use of the product outside PBS ...