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Health briefs
Researchers developing new arthritis drugs
October 16, 1996
Web posted at: 11:20 p.m. EDTATLANTA (CNN) -- Research on a new class of anti-inflammatory drugs indicates that the new drugs, cox-2 inhibitors, may help millions of Americans with rheumatoid arthritis while minimizing side effects associated with standard drug treatments.
Standard anti-inflammatory drugs -- like ibuprofen -- fight joint swelling by inhibiting cox-2, but also inhibit a related molecule, cox-1, which is critical to protecting the stomach and intestinal lining. The result can be stomach- related side effects like ulcers.
The new drugs, including one with the brand name Arthotec, are specifically aimed at cox-2. They combine the already available medicines diclofenac, an anti-inflammatory, and misoprostol, which prevents and treats ulcers.
Arthotec is already available in 27 countries, and Searle, the Illinois company that worked on it, has applied to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to approve it.
Reuters contributed to this report.
Related stories:
- Researchers say arthritis vaccine shows promise - February 6, 1996
- Some arthritis sufferers find relief at their workplace - December 30, 1995
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