Cyclooxygenase and nitric oxide systems in the gut as therapeutic targets for safer anti-inflammatory drugs.

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Whittle BJ

Cyclooxygenase and nitric oxide systems in the gut as therapeutic targets for safer anti-inflammatory drugs.

Curr Opin Pharmacol. 2004 Dec;4(6):538-45.

PubMed ID

15525540 [ View in PubMed

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Abstract

After a decade of intense pharmacological and drug development activity by the pharmaceutical industry, compounds derived from two key strategies for reducing gastrointestinal effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have been subjected to rigorous clinical appraisal. Despite the undoubted therapeutic and commercial success of the selective cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 inhibitors, known as the coxibs, with second-generation compounds already approved and launched, some concerns over their full gastrointestinal profile still linger, while the cardiovascular safety of this class has become a key issue. Likewise, Phase II evaluation of compounds incorporating a nitric oxide (NO)-donating moiety into standard NSAIDs (the NO-NSAIDs or CINODs) has created recent controversy over the full clinical profile of these compounds. Other approaches such as NO-COX-2 inhibitors and dual COX-lipoxygenase inhibitors are already warranting interest. It might therefore be too early to predict the eventual winning strategy for safer anti-inflammatory drugs.

DrugBank Data that Cites this Article

Drug Enzymes

Drug	Enzyme	Kind	Organism	Pharmacological Action	Actions
Diclofenac	Arachidonate 5-lipoxygenase	Protein	Humans	Unknown	Potentiator	Details