A new approach to the treatment of pain, inflammation and fever has been developed in Germany using chemical substances belonging to the dual mPGES-1/5-LO-Inhibitors. The most common form of treatment for these conditions is acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) or Ibuprofen, but had these been tested using today's stringent criteria, they probably would not have passed the clinical trial stage because of the potential risks and side effects they entail. Because of this, there is a need for more innovative thinking in this area of drug therapy.

The new class of anti-inflammatory drugs developed in Germany at Manfred Schubert-Zsilavecz's laboratory at Goethe University should be more effective and have fewer side-effects than aspirin. The group, led by Oliver Werz, characterized the substances at the molecular/pharmacological level, and the research now forms the basis of a joint patent application. The work has also been published in the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry.

Aspirin and the related non-steroidal anti-rheumatic drugs act on the arachidonic acid biosynthesis cascade, which plays a central role in the onset of pain and inflammation. They also prevent the synthesis of specific prostaglandins that are essential for vital bodily functions. When the drugs are taken during a long period of time, the unselective inhibition of this essential pathway can result in unwanted side effects on the gastrointestinal tract and the cardiovascular system. Schubert-Zsilavecz says: "By comparison, our class of drugs/substances acts on a later stage in the arachidonate cascade and is more selective. We can, therefore, expect it to have considerably fewer side effects."

Another advantage of the new class is that it not only specifically targets the biosynthesis of prostaglandin, but also of leukotrienes, which are metabolites in the second important branch of the arachidonate cascade and play a central role in allergic and inflammatory reactions. This double attack promises more effective results for these new substances.

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