Cost-Effectiveness of Cyclooxygenase-2 Inhibitors in Chronic Arthritis
Authors: James M. Pellissier, Douglas J. Watson, Sheldon X. Kong, Walter L. Straus
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2004)

Letters4 May 2004Cost-Effectiveness of Cyclooxygenase-2 Inhibitors in Chronic ArthritisJames M. Pellissier, PhD, Douglas J. Watson, PhD, Sheldon X. Kong, PhD, and Walter L. Straus, MD, MPHJames M. Pellissier, PhDFrom Merck & Co., West Point, PA 19486.Search for more papers by this author, Douglas J. Watson, PhDFrom Merck & Co., West Point, PA 19486.Search for more papers by this author, Sheldon X. Kong, PhDFrom Merck & Co., West Point, PA 19486.Search for more papers by this author, and Walter L. Straus, MD, MPHFrom Merck & Co., West Point, PA 19486.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-140-9-200405040-00019 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:Spiegel and colleagues (1) examined the cost-effectiveness of cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors compared with generic naproxen among patients with chronic arthritis. The authors critiqued our health economic analysis comparing rofecoxib with nonselective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and in doing so misstated both our methods and conclusions (2). We would like to address these errors.Spiegel and colleagues reported the conclusions of our analyses as follows: “Rofecoxib is likely to be both more effective and cost-saving when compared with nonselective NSAIDs.” In fact, we reported that the daily drug cost differences between rofecoxib and nonselective NSAIDs were partially offset by ...References1. Spiegel BM, Targownik L, Dulai GS, Gralnek IM. The cost-effectiveness of cyclooxygenase-2 selective inhibitors in the management of chronic arthritis. Ann Intern Med. 2003;138:795-806. [PMID: 12755551] LinkGoogle Scholar2. Pellissier JM, Straus WL, Watson DJ, Kong SX, Harper SE. Economic evaluation of rofecoxib versus nonselective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for the treatment of osteoarthritis. Clin Ther. 2001;23:1061-79. [PMID: 11519771] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Singh G. Recent considerations in nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug gastropathy. Am J Med. 1998;105:31S-38S. [PMID: 9715832] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Scheiman J, Isenberg J. Agents used in the prevention and treatment of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-associated symptoms and ulcers. Am J Med. 1998;105:32S-38S. [PMID: 9855174] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. Silverstein FE, Graham DY, Senior JR, Davies HW, Struthers BJ, Bittman RM, et al . Misoprostol reduces serious gastrointestinal complications in patients with rheumatoid arthritis receiving nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Ann Intern Med. 1995;123:241-9. [PMID: 7611589] LinkGoogle Scholar6. Hawkey CJ. Progress in prophylaxis against nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-associated ulcers and erosions. Omeprazole NSAID Steering Committee. Am J Med. 1998;104:67S-74S. [PMID: 9572324] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: James M. Pellissier, PhD; Douglas J. Watson, PhD; Sheldon X. Kong, PhD; Walter L. Straus, MD, MPHAffiliations: From Merck & Co., West Point, PA 19486. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoThe Cost-Effectiveness of Cyclooxygenase-2 Selective Inhibitors in the Management of Chronic Arthritis Brennan M.R. Spiegel , Laura Targownik , Gareth S. Dulai , and Ian M. Gralnek Cost-Effectiveness of Cyclooxygenase-2 Inhibitors in Chronic Arthritis Brennan M.R. Spiegel and Ian M. Gralnek Metrics Cited byAssessing the global availability of misoprostolHealth economic evaluation: A primer for the practicing rheumatologist 4 May 2004Volume 140, Issue 9Page: 761KeywordsArthritisDecision analysisDecision makingDrug pricesDrugsGastroenterology and hepatologyHealth economicsNSAIDsOsteoarthritisProton pump inhibitors ePublished: 4 May 2004 Issue Published: 4 May 2004 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2004 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...