Licofelone is a dual COX/ LOX inhibitor that was studied in clinical trials as a treatment for

osteoarthritis Osteoarthritis is a type of degenerative joint disease that results from breakdown of articular cartilage, joint cartilage and underlying bone. A form of arthritis, it is believed to be the fourth leading cause of disability in the world, affect ...

and which was under

development Development or developing may refer to: Arts *Development (music), the process by which thematic material is reshaped * Photographic development *Filmmaking, development phase, including finance and budgeting * Development hell, when a proje ...

by Merckle GmbH with partners Alfa Wassermann and Lacer. Licofelone is both an analgesic and an anti-inflammatory. Inhibition of

5-lipoxygenase Arachidonate 5-lipoxygenase, also known as ALOX5, 5-lipoxygenase, 5-LOX, or 5-LO, is a non-heme iron-containing enzyme (EC 1.13.11.34) that in humans is encoded by the ''ALOX5'' gene. Arachidonate 5-lipoxygenase is a member of the lipoxygenase fa ...

(5-LOX) may reduce the gastrointestinal toxicity associated with other

nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs A nonsteroidal compound is a drug that is not a steroid nor a steroid derivative. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are distinguished from corticosteroids as a class of anti-inflammatory agents. List of nonsteroidal steroid receptor mod ...

(NSAID), which only inhibit

cyclooxygenase Cyclooxygenase (COX), officially known as prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase (PTGS), is an enzyme (specifically, a family of isozymes, ) that is responsible for biosynthesis of prostanoids, including thromboxane and prostaglandins such a ...

(COX). Licofelone is the first drug to inhibit both. Phase III trials for

were conducted in the early 2000s, but results were mixed and the drug has never been submitted for regulatory approval.

References

{{Prostanoid signaling modulators Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs Abandoned drugs