New osteoarthritis treatment combines two types of drugs to prevent development of gastric ulcers
Patients who buy Euflexxa to alleviate symptoms of osteoarthritis may soon have another option in the form of VIMOVO, a modified-release tablet that was developed by AstraZeneca Canada and approved by Health Canada.
Patients who buy Euflexxa to alleviate symptoms of osteoarthritis may soon have another option in the form of VIMOVO, a modified-release tablet that was developed by AstraZeneca Canada and approved by Health Canada.
Experts found that the new drug helped managed the signs and symptoms of the bone disease, as well as those of rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. The tablets also decreased patients' risk of developing gastric ulcers.
VIMOVO was approved following positive data from a clinical development program, in which subjects who took the medication experienced significantly fewer ulcers and adverse events in the upper gastrointestinal tract.
The pill is the first fixed-dose combination of enteric coated naproxen - a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) - and a proton pump inhibitor (PPI).
"While NSAIDs are effective at relieving the pain and inflammation associated with osteoarthritis, many patients discontinue use and live in pain due to side effects," said physician Peter Lin. "VIMOVO combines an NSAID and a PPI together into one pill, allowing patients to have pain relief while protecting their stomachs."
|
