Cairo, 21 November 2021 – Sandoz Egypt, in collaboration with the Egyptian Orthopedic Association (EOA), has announced the launch of a new non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID from Sandoz ), etoricoxib, for the treatment of arthritis and chronic rheumatic disorders symptoms.12 Experts in the field of orthopedics were invited to discuss the burden of these diseases and treatment options available to patients, underlining the efficacy of Etirocoxib in terms of pain relief and the improvement of stiffness and function in patients with osteoarthritis, as well as its Favorable safety and gastrointestinal tolerability profile
“Compared to 1990, musculoskeletal disorder prevalence has risen by 45%1, with these disorders now representing the second largest cause of disability worldwide and accounting for 21% of global years lived in disability.1 Osteoarthritis alone affected around 303 million people globally according to 2017 estimates and is a highly prevalent rheumatic musculoskeletal disorder,2 ranked among the top 10 non-communicable diseases in terms of global disability adjusted life years (years of life lost and years lived with disability).1 Osteoarthritis of the knees specifically accounts for 83% of the total osteoarthritis burden,”1 Dr. Adel Adawy, former Minister of Health and Professor of Orthopedic surgery, Benha University, said.
“Treatments for osteoarthritis can be divided into two categories: non-pharmacological and pharmacological interventions.6 Non-pharmacological treatment efforts focus on health education, self-management, dietary advice and weight loss with realistic goals, encouragement and regular reassessment, and exercise that includes guidance on how to improve muscle strength around the affected joints as well as general aerobic exercise for greater overall fitness,”6 “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.” Dr. Gamal Hosny, Professor of orthopedic surgery, Benha University and preseident of EOA, said
“Treatment goals for chronic pain patients focus on diminishing suffering, increasing or restoring function, optimizing health, and improve coping skills.6 Pharmacological interventions used to achieve these objectives include topical NSAIDs, oral NSAIDs and selective COX-2 inhibitors,6 in addition to opioids if moderate to severe pain persists and is insufficiently managed through other treatments.”3,4 Inadequate pain relief is a major concern in the context of knee osteoarthritis, with patients requiring analgesics and experiencing significant functional loss and an impaired quality of life.1 54% of patients confirmed that they suffer from ongoing, moderate to severe pain, which suggests that currently prescribed pain treatments for knee osteoarthritis are not meeting the needs of the majority of patients,1 Dr. Ashraf El Nahal, Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at Cairo Univeristy, 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 activity¹³. 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,”5 Dr. Abdel Salam Eid, Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and Dean of Faculty of medicine, Zagazig University , said.
“Musculoskeletal conditions are often progressive and associated with considerable pain and disability, significantly affecting patients and diminishing their quality of life, in addition to representing a huge burden on society. Rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and spinal disorders including chronic low back pain are among the musculoskeletal conditions with the greatest impact on society9 and require the attention and concerted efforts of the medical and pharmaceutical communities to better manage the diseases and their negative effects, and at Sandoz we are committed to this goal,” Peter Effat, Sandoz Egypt Head of Medical Affairs, said, “Etoricoxib is a selective COX-2 inhibitor NSAID, approved for the treatment of various conditions including the symptomatic relief of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and others. It is considered one of the most effective oral NSAIDs for pain relief and improvement of stiffness and function in osteoarthritis patients, with a favorable overall safety and tolerability profile and improved gastrointestinal safety compared to nonselective NSAIDs.10-12 We believe that the introduction of etoricoxib by Sandoz represents an added value for patients by increasing the treatment options available to them and improving access to high quality medicines at a reasonable cost.”
“Sandoz is a global leader in generic pharmaceuticals and biosimilars and our purpose is to expand patient access to vital treatments at affordable costs. We contribute to society’s ability to support growing healthcare needs by pioneering novel approaches to help people around the world secure high-quality medicines according to their needs and not their financial resources. Our portfolio of approximately 1,000 molecules covers all major therapeutic areas and we are proud to add etoricoxib to the growing list of Sandoz drugs available in Egypt, helping improve the quality of life for osteoarthritis patients while minimizing the risk of gastrointestinal side effects. We will continue to work hard to offer patients the very best that advanced medicine has to offer,” Sameh El Bagoury, Sandoz Egypt & Libya Country Head, said.
