November 16, 1998
A recent report concludes that Searle and
Pfizer's investigational drug Celebrex (celecoxib) relieves arthritis-related
pain as well as full therapeutic doses of commonly-prescribed non-steroidal
anti-inflammatory (NSAID) pain relievers.
Celebrex, a specific COX-2 inhibitor, was tested in a 12-week trial of 1,149
patients with rheumatoid arthritis to collect data.
It was found that Celebrex was effective as the commonly-used NSAID naproxen in
relieving joint tenderness, pain, and swelling.
Authors further note that the gastrointestinal side-effects associated with use
of Celebrex were comparable to those seen in patients who received a placebo,
while naproxen-treated patients experienced significantly greater levels of
such side-effects.
A separate study involving 600 arthritis patients found Celebrex to be as
effective in relieving symptoms of the condition as was the NSAID diclofenac,
and that the rate of gastrointestinal complaints was 33% higher in the
diclofenac-treated group.
The findings were presented at the 62nd national meeting of the American
College of Rheumatology in San Diego (November 13, 1998).
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