The History of Celebrex

Medication for arthritis sufferers ranges from over-the-counter to prescription remedies. While many take drugs such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil) and naproxen (Aleve) for symptoms and pain, a class of prescription drugs has won favor due to their effectiveness and lesser side effects. Leading the class of COX-2 inhibitors is Celebrex.
Celebrex's history is dotted with controversy, however, its popularity is indisputable. It is one of the top 50 most prescribed drugs in America, according to the Pharmaceutical Researchers and Manufacturers Association.

History

Celebrex is the brand name for a drug compound called celecoxib. The drug was originally developed by G.D. Searle & Company. Through a series of mergers, Searle was acquired by pharmaceutical giant Pfizer.
For the better part of a decade, from the mid-1990s to the middle part of this decade, Celebrex and another COX-2 inhibitor, Vioxx, battled for market share. The FDA ordered Vioxx pulled from the marketplace in 2004, after studies showed an increase in cardiac ailments due to the use of Vioxx. With the market cornered, Pfizer saw the sales of its drug explode. In 2006, Celebrex sales topped $2 billion.

Controversy Part I

During the 2005 civil trials against Merck, Vioxx's manufacturer, doctors stated that the entire COX-2 inhibitor class of drugs could put patients at increased risk for heart attacks and other ailments. While the claims were eventually found to be untrue, Celebrex saw an immediate decline in sales and Pfizer pulled advertising for the drug. The eventual rebound for the drug came in part to an advertising campaign touting the safety of the medication.

Controversy Part II

This was not the first legal hangup to face Celebrex. In 2004, prior to the Vioxx incident, the University of Rochester claimed that Pfizer/Searle had violated the college's patent filing. The university claimed it had the original patent on file for developing COX-2 inhibiting compounds. The courts ruled in Pfizer's favor, deciding that while the college may have filed a method for developing the drug, it had no written evidence that it had indeed created the drug.

Development

COX-2 inhibitors are part of a class of drugs called Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDS). These drugs attack inflammation, like that caused by arthritis, without the impact of steroids. NSAIDs have a tendency to irritate the lining of the stomach, often times causing ulcers. COX-2 inhibitors are more technical in their approach, avoiding COX-1 enzymes. The result is lessen impact on the digestive system and reduced issues with blood clotting, which are found when COX-1 is inhibited.

How It Works

The COX-2 enzyme triggers the body's production of prostaglandins. The prostaglandins rush to areas of weakness in the body and trigger inflammation at arthritic points. Celebrex reduces the amount of the enzyme in the body. As a result, less prostaglandins are made and the amount of inflammation is reduced.