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| | | ![]() Vioxx Approved In The U.K. For Osteoarthritis WHITEHOUSE STATION, NJ -- June 8, 1999 -- Merck & Co., Inc.’s Vioxx(R) (rofecoxib) has been approved in the United Kingdom for symptomatic relief in the treatment of osteoarthritis. Vioxx will be available immediately. The U.K. is the first country in the European Union to approve Vioxx. Vioxx works by inhibiting the COX-2 enzyme that triggers pain and inflammation, while sparing a related enzyme (COX-1) that helps maintain the normal stomach lining. In general, certain nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, block both enzymes. These medications treat pain and inflammation, but may damage the stomach lining, potentially leading to ulcers in some patients. Vioxx is available in the U.S., Mexico, Colombia and Peru for the treatment of osteoarthritis, management of acute pain in adults, and the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea (severe to moderate menstrual pain).
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