Licofelone is a dual COX/LOX inhibitor[1][2] that was studied in clinical trials as a treatment for osteoarthritis[3] and which was under development by Merckle GmbH with partners Alfa Wassermann and Lacer.
Licofelone is both an analgesic and an anti-inflammatory. Inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) may reduce the gastrointestinal toxicity associated with other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), which only inhibit cyclooxygenase (COX). Licofelone is the first drug to inhibit both.
Phase III trials for osteoarthritis were conducted in the early 2000s,[4][5] but results were mixed and the drug has never been submitted for regulatory approval.
^Vidal C, Gómez-Hernández A, Sánchez-Galán E, González A, Ortega L, Gómez-Gerique JA, et al. (January 2007). "Licofelone, a balanced inhibitor of cyclooxygenase and 5-lipoxygenase, reduces inflammation in a rabbit model of atherosclerosis". The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. 320 (1): 108–16. doi:10.1124/jpet.106.110361. PMID17015640. S2CID73105840.
^Wildi LM, Raynauld JP, Martel-Pelletier J, Abram F, Dorais M, Pelletier JP (December 2010). "Relationship between bone marrow lesions, cartilage loss and pain in knee osteoarthritis: results from a randomised controlled clinical trial using MRI". Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. 69 (12): 2118–24. doi:10.1136/ard.2009.127993. PMID20610445. S2CID206864399.