ZURICH ~ Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis said this week its anti-inflammatory painkiller drug Prexige had been suspended from sale and marketing in Britain and Germany amid fears it can cause liver damage.

Britain’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency said in a statement it was suspending the license of Prexige “due to the safety concerns about possible liver damage for patients.”

Germany and Austria have also taken similar steps, following suspensions earlier this year in Canada and Australia, Novartis said.