Pfizer to stop all ads for its arthritis drug

NEW YORK -- Drug maker Pfizer said yesterday it would immediately stop advertising its best-selling arthritis pain reliever Celebrex to consumers after a study showed high doses of it were associated with an increased heart attack risk.

The move covers television, radio, newspaper, and magazine advertising, Pfizer spokeswoman Mariann Caprino said.

The Food and Drug Administration, which said Friday it was considering warning labels for Celebrex or withdrawing the drug from the US market, agreed with Pfizer's decision to halt advertising. ''We discussed it with the FDA, and we all concurred that it was the appropriate step," Caprino told The New York Times.

Pfizer officials did not immediately return calls seeking comment left yesterday by The Associated Press. Pfizer said it plans to keep Celebrex on the market and will continue marketing the drug to doctors.