Eterocoxib (Arcoxia)
Arcoxia is a new COX-2 inhibiting pain reliever developed by Merck. On October 29, 2004, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sent an "approvable" letter to Merck with a request for additional safety data for Arcoxia. This COX-2 inhibiting drug was to be a successor to Vioxx.
Among the COX-2 inhibiting drugs currently marketed or under development, Arcoxia has the second highest selectivity ratio of COX-1 versus COX-2 (344). This compares to the ratios of the three drugs that are commercially available in the United States: 30 for celecoxib (Celebrex), 60 for valdecoxib (Bextra) and 272 for rofecoxib (Vioxx).
More research is needed to fully understand the relationship between the COX-1/COX-2 selectivity ratio and the incidence of heart attacks and strokes, which lead Merck and Company to recall Vioxx in September 2004.
It is important to keep in mind that the higher the selectivity ratio, the more effective a COX-2 drug may prove for reducing gastrointestinal side effects. However, research suggests that higher COX-2 selectivity may disturb the cardiovascular system, causing heart attacks, blood clots and strokes.
Arcoxia has been approved in 48 countries in Europe, Latin America and the Asia-Pacific region.