Pfizer's COX-2 inhibitor celecoxib (Celebrex) was the subject of an FDA alert following news that an increased risk of cardiovascular events was found in patients taking the drug as part of a National Cancer Institute (NCI) clinical trial.

The FDA recommends that practitioners with patients already taking celecoxib or those considering prescribing the drug consider that information about the drug's risks is still evolving and that patients should be so informed. Practitioners should consider alternatives to celecoxib based on individual need and risk factors. If alternatives are not acceptable, the lowest effective dose of the drug should be used.