WALTHAM, Mass., Aug. 20 (UPI) -- Industry analysts say drug makers will take a hit but will survive as a controversial anti-inflammatory drug makes its way through the court system.
A jury decided Friday that Vioxx, made by Merck, was a factor in the death of a Texas man, The New York Times reports.
Merck took the drug off the market last year due to safety concerns.
Pfizer took Bextra, its version of what is known as a cox-2 inhibitor, off the market as well.
Physicians still call the drugs, which lower the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding, safer than aspirin on a patients stomach.
Gustav Ando, an analyst for the Waltham, Mass., business research firm, Global Insight, said the drugs have potential, despite side effects that may cause cardiovascular problems.
Drug companies are still optimistic, the Times said.
Both Pfizer and Merck have second cox-2 drugs on the market, although only Pfizer's Celebrex is approved for the United States.
GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis and Merck have millions of dollars in cox-2 research right now, despite Food and Drug Administration regulations being strengthened.
