There might not be a cure for the common cold yet – but at least arthritis sufferers may not have to take the pain anymore.
Pharmaceutical giants Pfizer and Searle yesterday introduced Celebrex – a capsule they say will alleviate pain for many of the 40 million sufferers of the debilitating disease in America.
Richard De Schutter, Searle’s CEO, said the key advantage of Celebrex is that it doesn’t encourage bleeding in the gastrointestinal system – the way existing nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, such as ibuprofen and naproxen, do.
“Millions of patients who suffer from this debilitating disease will now have a new option for the relief of their symptoms, with less risk of GI ulcerations,” De Schutter said.
More than 16,000 die annually from arthritis complications, he said.
Dr. Phil Needleman, co-president of Searle and the man credited with developing Celebrex, said only two of 5,000 tested patients had serious bleeding problems during trials, which tended to average three months.
“That’s an extremely low rate,” he noted during a teleconference call from his office in St. Louis.
Some 13,000 patients were tested for both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis in adults.
Needleman said the breakthrough came when scientist were able to inhibit the COX-2 enzyme – which is instrumental in controlling pain and inflammation – without inhibiting the COX-1 enzyme, which helps maintain a normal stomach lining.
Needleman said tests showed the downside of Celebrex is “really mild to moderate dyspepsia [heartburn] and abdominal pain.”
Celebrex was approved by the FDA last week, the companies said.
Pfizer CEO Al Hiller said the product will start being shipped out in about two weeks and should be available in pharmacies by February. Hiller said the 200mg capsule will sell at $2.42 wholesale per pill.