Vol. 10, Issue 3 (2024)

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a persistent degenerative and incapacitating condition distinguished by intricate issues affecting the entire synovial joint. NSAIDs and available COX-2 inhibitors that are useful in osteoarthritis show limitations in terms of adverse effects. They all have black box warnings as they are not cardio, renal, and GI safe. Polmacoxib, a novel nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), is the first, tissue-selective, once-a-day osteoarthritic drug with a unique mode of action that specifically targets affected joints to relieve pain and restore mobility. Its unique mechanism of action is projected to provide a meaningful enhancement of cardiovascular, renal, and gastrointestinal safety over currently available NSAID options. The pharmacological profile of this drug is characterized by its ability to inhibit COX-2 via the CYP3A4 pathway. In this review, we describe the clinical efficacy, safety, and tolerability of polmacoxib in the treatment of OA.