Sandoz Egypt introduces NSAID treatment for arthritis and chronic rheumatic diseases.
Sandoz Egypt has announced the launch of Etoricoxib, a novel nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicine (NSAID from Sandoz) for the treatment of arthritis and chronic rheumatic disease symptoms, in cooperation with the Egyptian Orthopedic Association (EOA).
12 orthopedic experts were invited to discuss the burden of these diseases and the treatment options available to patients, emphasizing the efficacy of Etoricoxib in terms of pain relief, stiffness, and function improvement in patients with osteoarthritis, as well as its favorable safety and gastrointestinal tolerability profile.
“Compared to 1990, the prevalence of musculoskeletal illnesses has increased by 45 percent1, making these disorders the second leading cause of disability globally, accounting for 21% of global years lived in disability. According to 2017 estimates, osteoarthritis alone impacted around 303 million individuals worldwide and is a very widespread rheumatic musculoskeletal disorder,2 ranking among the top ten noncommunicable illnesses in terms of global disability-adjusted life years (years of life lost and years lived with disability). Osteoarthritis of the knees accounts for 83% of overall osteoarthritis burden,” former Minister of Health and Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Benha University, Dr. Adel Adawy, stated
On the other hand, Dr. Gamal Hosny, Benha University Professor of Orthopedic Surgery and EOA President said, “Non-pharmacological and pharmaceutical approaches are the two types of osteoarthritis treatments. Non-pharmacological treatment efforts focus on health education, self-management, dietary advice, realistic weight loss goals, encouragement and regular reassessment, and exercise that included guidance on how to improve muscle strength around the affected joints as well as general aerobic exercise for greater overall fitness. This is where I believe the EOA can – and does – play a significant role, providing support to osteoarthritis patients through continuous education and by providing them with instructions to improve their well-being and their lifestyles in general to complement their drug-based treatment routines.”
From her side, Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Cairo University, Dr. Ashraf El Nahal stated, ” Chronic pain sufferers’ treatment aims include reducing suffering, enhancing or restoring function, maximizing health, and improving coping abilities. To achieve these goals, pharmacological therapies such as topical NSAIDs, oral NSAIDs, and selective COX-2 inhibitors6 are utilized, as well as opioids if moderate to severe pain continues and is not adequately controlled by other treatments. Insufficient pain management is a prominent problem in the setting of knee osteoarthritis, with patients requiring analgesics and suffering from severe functional loss and reduced quality of life. 54% of patients reported continuing, moderate to severe pain, suggesting that existing pain therapies for knee osteoarthritis are not satisfying the needs of the majority of patients.’’
Dr. Abdel Salam Eid, Professor of Orthopedic Surgery and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University also said: “NSAIDs block the cyclooxygenase (COX) enzyme and reduce the production of inflammatory prostaglandins (PGs) but their use is associated with gastrointestinal and renal toxicity. The therapeutic anti-inflammatory action of NSAIDs is produced by the inhibition of COX-2, while the undesired side effects arise from the inhibition of COX-1 activity. Selective inhibitors of COX-2 are expected to possess anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antipyretic activity but lack the gastrointestinal toxicity of NSAIDs.7 The American College of Rheumatology in 2012 recommended COX-2 inhibitors in addition to proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) in patients with knee or hip osteoarthritis combined with gastrointestinal risk factors.5 This was also recommended by the Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) 2014 Guidelines which stated that for patients with multiple-joint osteoarthritis in addition to moderate comorbidity risks such as gastrointestinal complications, a selective COX-2 inhibitor is the first line NSAID recommended for treatment.”
Sameh El Bagoury, Sandoz Egypt & Libya Country Head added: ‘’Sandoz is a global leader in generic pharmaceuticals and biosimilars, and our mission is to provide patients with more affordable access to life-saving medications. We contribute to society’s ability to meet expanding healthcare demands by developing unique techniques to assist individuals all over the world in obtaining high-quality medications based on their needs rather than their financial means. Our portfolio of almost 1,000 molecules spans all key therapeutic areas and we are delighted to add Etoricoxib to the increasing number of Sandoz medications accessible in Egypt, helping enhance the quality of life for osteoarthritis patients while lowering the risk of gastrointestinal side effects. We will continue to work hard to provide patients the absolute best that advanced medicine has to offer.”
