The Lancet Reports Prexige TARGET Clinical Trial Results

Results from TARGET (The Therapeutic Arthritis Research and Gastrointestinal Event Trial) which assessed gastrointestinal and cardiovascular safety of the COX-2 inhibitor lumiracoxib (Prexige) compared with the NSAIDs naproxen and ibuprofen have been reported in the August 21st issue of The Lancet. In the randomized study of 18,325 osteoarthritis patients, aged 50 years or older, the risk of ulcer complications was reduced among patients given lumiracoxib by 79%, compared with patients taking the other NSAIDs (this benefit did not apply to patients also taking aspirin). TARGET also demonstrated that the incidence of non-fatal and silent heart attacks, stroke, or cardiovascular death, did not differ significantly between those taking lumiracoxib vs. the other NSAIDs. Read the press release from Novartis, the maker of Prexige. In a separate commentary, Eric J Topol and Gary W Falk of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation were critical of the TARGET study saying, "unfortunately, this trial, like all others in the clinical development of coxibs, purposefully excluded patients with known and significant pre-existing coronary artery disease."