[Rationale for using nabumetone and clinical experience].

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology
• Rheumatology
• Drug Development

Background:

• Nabumetone is a widely used nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) with over a decade of clinical application.
• Its popularity stems from a unique pharmacokinetic profile and favorable pharmacodynamic safety features.
• Nabumetone is a nonacidic prodrug metabolized to 6-methoxy-2-naphthylacetic acid (6-MNA), exhibiting COX-2 preferential activity and lacking enterohepatic recirculation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the clinical experience and therapeutic advantages of nabumetone.
• To highlight its unique pharmacokinetic and safety features contributing to long-term tolerability.
• To compare nabumetone's profile with newer selective COX-2 inhibitors in terms of efficacy, tolerability, and cost-effectiveness.

Main Methods:

• Review of clinical experience and published data on nabumetone.
• Analysis of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties.
• Comparative assessment with selective COX-2 inhibitors regarding tolerability and cost.

Main Results:

• Nabumetone demonstrates excellent long-term tolerability in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis populations.
• Its 24-hour half-life allows for convenient once-daily dosing, suitable for chronic anti-inflammatory therapy.
• Nabumetone exhibits clear cost-effectiveness advantages compared to potentially more expensive selective COX-2 NSAIDs.

Conclusions:

• Nabumetone's established tolerability profile, efficacy, and cost-effectiveness make it a valuable option for long-term arthritis management.
• Its unique prodrug characteristics and COX-2 preferential activity contribute to its favorable safety and tolerability.
• Nabumetone remains a reliable and accessible choice for anti-inflammatory therapy while newer agents accrue long-term data.