| abstract |
This invention provides a prodrug that help arthritis patients without increasing cardiovascular and gastrointestinal risk. A novel group of hybrid nitric oxide-releasing non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NO-NSAIDs), moiety attached via a one -carbon methylene spacer to the carboxylic acid group of the traditional NSAIDs aspirin, ibuprofen and indomethacin were synthesized. The ester prodrugs showed equipotent anti-inflammatory activities in vivo to that of the parent aspirin, ibuprofen and indomethacin. The simultaneous release of parent drug and nitric oxide from the NO- prodrugs constitutes a potentially beneficial property for the prophylactic prevention of thrombus formation and adverse cardiovascular events such as stroke and myocardial infarction. Data acquired in an in vivo ulcer index (UI) assay showed that this group of ester prodrugs in which no lesions were observed when compared to the parent drugs at equivalent doses. Accordingly, these hybrid NO-NSAID prodrugs possessing a diazen-1-ium-1,2-diolate moiety, represents a new approach for the rational design of anti-inflammatory drugs with reduced gastric ulcerogenicity. |