Efficacy of lumiracoxib in osteoarthritis: a review of nine studies

Lumiracoxib is a cyclooxygenase-2 selective inhibitor in development for the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA), rheumatoid arthritis and acute pain. We reviewed nine clinical studies of 1 - 52 weeks' duration demonstrating the efficacy of lumiracoxib in OA. Male and female patients aged greater than or equal to 18 years with primary OA of the hand, hip or knee received lumiracoxib, placebo or active comparators (diclofenac, celecoxib or rofecoxib). Lumiracoxib provided consistent reductions in OA pain intensity and improvements in the patient's global assessment of disease activity and functional status (assessed using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index questionnaire or the Australian/Canadian OA Hand Index). These results were superior to placebo and similar to the active comparators tested. In addition, lumiracoxib was consistently superior to placebo and generally similar to active comparators in terms of the new Outcome Measures in Clinical Trials and Osteoarthritis Research Society International criteria. These were used to provide a single measure of response to treatment, taking into account pain, the patient's global assessment of disease activity and functional status.