Etoricoxib Comparable to Ibuprofen for Osteoarthritis

April 15, 2005

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NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Apr 11 - New research indicates that

etoricoxib is a well-tolerated treatment for osteoarthritis and is

comparable to ibuprofen in effectiveness.

Etoricoxib is one of the newest members of the COX-2 selective class of

NSAIDs. Like all members of this class, it has recently come under

scrutiny for its cardiovascular risks. The US Food and Drug

Administration is awaiting further safety and efficacy data before

approving the drug, which goes by the trade name Arcoxia.

Dr. Judith A. Boice, from Merck Research Laboratories in Rahway, New

Jersey, and colleagues compared etoricoxib (30 mg once daily) with

ibuprofen (800 mg three times daily) and placebo as a treatment for

osteoarthritis of the hip and knee. A total of 528 patients

participated in the 12-week randomized trial.

The researchers' findings appear in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings for

April.

Etoricoxib and ibuprofen took about 2 weeks to achieve maximal efficacy

and this level of symptom control was maintained for the remaining 10

weeks. Both active agents were significantly more effective than

placebo in controlling arthritis pain and improving function. In

addition, both drugs were generally well tolerated.

" For patients with osteoarthritis, treatment with etoricoxib, 30 mg/d,

is well tolerated and provides sustained therapeutic efficacy that is

superior to placebo and clinical comparable to ibuprofen, 2400 mg/d, "

the researchers conclude.

Mayo Clin Proc 2005;80:470-479.

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