The drug used to treat osteoarthritis, Prexige, has had its licence suspended by the MHRA.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), the government agency responsible for ensuring that medicines and medical devices work and are safe, has suspended the licence for Prexige – a drug used to treat osteoarthritis – amid concerns that it causes liver damage.

Prexige was first introduced in the UK in December 2005, and around 8.5 million prescriptions have been written for the drug worldwide.

In August 2007, due to an analysis of data, new prescribing restrictions were put in place by the MHRA for patients who had liver problems and who were currently receiving the drug.

The MHRA has now suspended the drug’s licence following an increase of patients with serious liver damage.

Dr June Raine, Director of Vigilance and Risk Management of Medicines at the MHRA, said: “The MHRA carefully reviewed the latest evidence, and sought independent expert advice from the Commission on Human Medicines (CHM).

“In light of the latest data on liver toxicity associated with lumiracoxib, CHM advised that previous measures could not be relied upon to guarantee patient safety. Patients taking Prexige should make an appointment to see their doctor at the next convenient opportunity.”