Celecoxib to prevent restenosis--results from the COREA-TAXUS trial

Celecoxib inhibits Akt, which is stimulated during restenosis. Cell and animal studies showed that celecoxib inhibited Akt stimulation and restenosis. Recently, the COREA-TAXUS (Effect of Celecoxib on Restenosis after Coronary Angioplasty with Taxus stent) trial was performed in subjects with angina or a positive-stress test receiving paclitaxel-eluting stents. The primary end point at 6 months was the in-stent, late luminal loss, which was 0.49 mm in the celecoxib-treated group; less than the 0.75 mm in the group not treated with celecoxib. The rate of revascularisation of the target lesion was lower in celecoxib-treated subjects (5%) than in the untreated subjects (15%). In conclusion, this is an excellent demonstration of translating a mechanism of action of a drug into a clinical use.