Musculoskeletal/Rheumatology

With its FDA approval in November, valdecoxib becomes the hird COX-2 inhibitor to gain US market clearance. This Focus article examines valdecoxib's pharmacologic, pharmacokinetic, and therapeutic aspects and considers its role in relation to other COX-2 inhibitors and traditional NSAIDs. Special attention is devoted to its comparative COX-1:COX-2 inhibitory ratio and an array of unpublished efficacy and safety trials.

Biologic: First IL-1 receptor blocker for moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis

NME: COX-2 inhibitor for rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and dysmenorrhea

Two new real-world comparisons of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blockers infliximab (Remicade) and etanercept (Enbrel) show that the two agents are highly comparable treatments for rheumatoid arthritis