t that there are actually two versions of cyclooxygenase found in the body: COX-1 and COX-2. "COX-2 is induced at areas of inflammation," explains Laine, "while COX-1 is involved in the day-to-day maintenance of the stomach lining. What we have seen is that you can get anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting COX-2, but you decrease or prevent the development of gastrointestinal tract injury by sparing COX-1."

In April, a Food and Drug Administration advisory committee recommended approval of rofecoxib for treatment of osteoarthritis and acute pain. The brand name of rofecoxib will be Vioxx, according to Merck & Co., which manufactures the drug. It is likely that the drug will be approved to treat not only osteoarthritis, but acute pain as well. If given the go-ahead, it will be only the second COX-2 inhibitor on the market.

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Contact: Lori Oliwenstein
oliwenst@usc.edu
323-442-2830
University of Southern California
17-May-1999

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