Drug development (an overview with real drugs, Vioxx)

7 important questions on Drug development (an overview with real drugs, Vioxx)

What three kind of reactions do NSAIDS have?

- Anti-inflammatory action
- analgesic effect
- antipyretic effect

What is the difference between COX-1 and COX-2 inhibition?

COX-1 is for example oriented in the stomach. COX-2 is inducible especially by inflammation. The cox-enzyme is one of the first steps in the production of prostaglandines. Prostaglandines can have several kinds of functions. In the stomach COX-1 is involved in the defense mechanism of the stomach wall against the acids. 
COX-1 is also more involved in house-keeping and it is constitutive in contrary to COX-2. COX-2 is inducible and it is involved with cancer and inflammation

How is the mechanism of action of aspirin?

It covalenty modifies both COX-1 and COX-2 by acetylating serine-530 in the active site.
- acetylation of COX-1 creates a steric block that prevents the binding of arachidonic acid at the cyclooxygenase active site.
- acetylation of COX-2 retains the cyclooxygenase activity although the reaction produces a novel product 15-R-HETE.
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What is the history of Vioxx?

In 2000 there were rising concerns that Vioxx should induce heart risks during a clinical trial. Then there were patients dying from it but the company dit not know what the cause was.
After Vioxx was released on the drug market a research group was set up named VIOGOR (VIOXX gastrointestinal Outcomes research). This study group reported about the risks but  the company did not mention those data in the sales.

What is the story of COX-2 inhibitors?

In the 1990's there was a tremendous hope of reducing GI morbidity and mortality.
In 1998 the Vioxx NDA was large.
There were no cardiovascular signals in the clinical trials, but there were prothrombotic effects signalized.
Vioxx was approved in 1999 in 47 countries. 
Then in 2000 the VIOGOR trial and several other trials  started.  The found lots of evidence that Vioxx induced cardiovascular events. These effects were evident after 18 months of treatment.

Why do the cardiovascular events of Vioxx occur?

In platelets a functional expression of COX-1 promotes thromboxane A2 dependent platelet aggregation and is not inhibited by Vioxx. Furthermore the vasodilative prostacyclines were inhibited in the endothelial cells.
In conclusion, COX-2 selectivity alone is not a good predictor of adverse side effects.

What are the 3 parts of a safety assessment?

- safety
- Risk
- Hazard

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