Content about Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

PEAPACK, N.J. — Greenstone has launched an authorized generic painkiller, the company said.

Greenstone, the generics arm of Pfizer, announced the introduction of authorized generic oxaprozin caplets in the 600 mg strength. The drug is a version of Pfizer's Daypro, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, or NSAID.

Authorized generics are branded drugs sold under their generic names at a reduced price.

PHILADELPHIA — The Food and Drug Administration has accepted a regulatory application for a new painkiller from Iroko Pharmaceuticals, the drug maker said Monday.

Iroko is seeking approval for a lower-dose, submicron diclofenac, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug for treating mild to moderate acute pain in adults.

NEW YORK — Eye care company Alcon has launched a treatment for pain and inflammation resulting from cataract surgery, the company said Monday.

The company said Ilevro (nepafenac) ophthalmic suspension was a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug and once-daily treatment for cataract surgery patients.

EUGENE, Ore. — The American Heart Association has joined a group of patient and provider organizations promoting safe use of a commonly used class of painkillers.

The AHA announced that it had joined the Alliance for the Rational Use of NSAIDs, which refers to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, a class that includes the common drug ibuprofen. Other members include the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy.

 BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Aspirin has the potential to block tumor growth in certain patients with colorectal cancer, according to an editorial in the Oct. 25, 2012 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine by a University of Alabama at Birmingham oncologist. In a study that appears in the same issue, researchers examined the use of aspirin in the treatment outcomes of patients with colorectal cancer.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a generic drug for arthritis made by Watson Pharmaceuticals, the company said.

Watson announced that the FDA approved a subsidiary's application for diclofenac sodium and misoprostol delayed-release tablets. The drug is a generic version of G.D. Searle's Arthrotec, used to treat osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis in patients who have high risk of developing ulcers related to the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, a class that includes the painkiller ibuprofen.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — The U.S. over-the-counter drug market saw strong growth in 2011, thanks to switches of prescription drugs to OTC, gains in the allergy relief products category and holistic marketing, according to a new report from Kline.

According to the international consulting and research firm's Nonprescription Drugs USA 2011 report, at the manufacturers' level, the U.S. OTC drug market posted a gain of 2.4%, reaching $21.4 billion in 2011.

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Hisamitsu America on Monday launched three new topical analgesic solutions, the company stated.

MADISON, N.J. — According to two new surveys of parents and pediatricians from Pfizer Consumer Healthcare, more than half of all parents report feeling anxious, fearful or helpless when their child comes down with a fever. In addition, many parents are not managing the fever correctly.

This actually is nothing new to the vast majority of pediatricians (94%) who believe that parents need more fever management education.

HAMILTON, Ontario — Proton-pump inhibitors may aggravate, not soothe, stomach discomfort created through chronic use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for such conditions as arthritis, according to research released Thursday.

In a study published in the medical journal Gastroenterology, principal investigator John Wallace reported the extent of the hard-to-detect damage caused to the small intestine only recently has been discovered through use of small video cameras swallowed like pills.

MORRISTOWN, N.J. — Bayer has launched a reformulated aspirin called Bayer Advanced Aspirin that works in less than half the time of the company's regular aspirin, according to published reports.

According to yet-to-be-published research, the new Bayer Advanced Aspirin can begin providing meaningful pain relief in as little as 16 minutes, compared with an average 100 minutes for the company's mainstay brand.

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — A pill developed by AstraZeneca and Pozen that combines a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug with a proton-pump inhibitor was well-tolerated in patients with osteoarthritis, according to a new study.

AstraZeneca announced results of PN400-304, a 12-month study of Vimovo (naproxen and esomeprazole magnesium) delayed-release tablets in patients with osteoarthritis who need daily treatment with NSAIDs but are at risk of NSAID-related gastric ulcers. Vimovo is designed to reduce pain while reducing gastric ulcer risk.