Hundreds of Attorneys, Medical Experts Gather to Discuss Implications of Bextra and Celebrex; Heavyweights to Discuss Developments, Legal Action at Mealey's Bextra and Celebrex Litigation Conference Sponsored by LexisNexis

DAYTON, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 19, 2005--On the heels of Vioxx litigation, legal claims surrounding prescription arthritis drugs are expected to soar following Pfizer's recent suspension of Bextra sales and continued FDA scrutiny of Celebrex. LexisNexis(R) U.S., a leading provider of legal, news and business information services, will host a symposium next month to help plaintiff and defense attorneys prepare to address these issues. The Mealey's Bextra and Celebrex Litigation Conference will be held on May 11 at the Fairmont Hotel in Chicago.

In addition to plaintiff and defense attorneys, physicians, pharmacologists, legislators and financial analysts will be in attendance at this one-day conference. A sampling of topics to be addressed at the conference includes:

-- Bextra and Celebrex history, clinical studies and adverse effects

-- Cardiology issues associated with the use of Bextra and Celebrex

-- The link between Bextra use and Stevens Johnson Syndrome

-- FDA legal and regulatory issues including the recently established Drug Monitoring board

-- Effectiveness of prescription label warnings and liability

-- Theories of liability and defense including causation

For registration information on the Mealey's Bextra and Celebrex Litigation Conference, visit www.mealeys.com/conferences or call 1-800-MEALEYS.

About LexisNexis

LexisNexis(R) U.S. (www.lexisnexis.com) is a leader in comprehensive and authoritative legal, news and business information and tailored applications. A member of Reed Elsevier Group plc (NYSE:ENL)(NYSE:RUK) (www.reedelsevier.com), the company does business in 100 countries with 13,000 employees worldwide. In addition to its flagship Web-based Lexis(R) and Nexis(R) research services, the company includes some of the world's most respected legal publishers such as Martindale-Hubbell, Matthew Bender, Butterworths, Les Editions du Juris-Classeur, Abeledo-Perrot and Orac.