HARTFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 11, 2005--Aetna (NYSE:AET) announced today it is contacting more than 33,000 members who have used Bextra(R) to inform them directly about the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) decision to ask that Bextra be withdrawn from the market. The FDA last Thursday concluded the overall risk versus benefit profile for that medication is unfavorable. In addition, Aetna will inform physicians and members that it is not paying any claims for Bextra prescriptions as of April 7, the day the FDA asked Pfizer Inc. to withdraw the drug from the market. Aetna Pharmacy Management has instituted computer system edits that will automatically block Bextra prescriptions from being paid.
