NicOx drug shows favorable blood pressure results

Non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as naproxen and naproxcinod represent the established symptomatic treatment for osteoarthritis. The cardiovascular safety of these drugs has been debated and they are known to raise blood pressure and interfere with the treatment of hypertension.

The trial results showed a 2 mmHg difference in both the average systolic and diastolic blood pressure in favor of naproxcinod, in terms of the mean change from baseline as measured by Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring (ABPM). This difference did not reach statistical significance for systolic blood pressure, the primary endpoint of the trial. However statistical significance was achieved for diastolic blood pressure, which was an important secondary endpoint, said the company.

“These results are in line with the difference in systolic and diastolic blood pressure that we observed for naproxcinod at two weeks in the recently announced results from the 301 phase III trial,” said Maarten Beekman, vice president of Clinical Development at NicOx.