MHRA TELLS PFIZER TO WITHDRAW ANTIBIOTIC AD

The UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has ordered Pfizer to withdraw an advertisement for Zyvox, an antibiotic used to treat certain types of serious infection. The agency said the ads are potentially misleading.

The advertisement, which ran in the British Medical Journal, claims that Zyvox (linezolid) has superior cure rates compared with products containing vancomycin. But Pfizer has been in discussions with the MHRA about emerging concerns relating to the efficacy and safety of Zyvox compared with vancomycin in a clinical trial of patients with catheter-related infections.

Pfizer has suspended all advertising containing this claim, according to the MHRA. The agency advised Pfizer that it needs to continually review its advertising in the light of current information.

Pfizer wrote to healthcare professionals this week to inform them about new safety concerns associated with the use of Zyvox, the MHRA said.