Preclinical studies on indoprofen, a new non-steroidal analgesic-antiinflammatory agent

Indoprofen is an isoindoline derivative of phenylpropionic acid. At doses of 1-3 mg/kg it inhibited acute and subchronic experimental inflammation. Its strong analgesic activity lacks any specific CNS effect. The drug's pharmacological activity is directly related to inhibition of prostaglandin biosynthesis at the cyclo-oxygenase step. In carrageenin-induced oedema indoprofen and prednisolone had a synergistic anti-inflammatory effect, and indoprofen and acetylsalicylic acid showed an additive effect. Acute and chronic toxicity of indoprofen was determined in the mouse, rat, dog and monkey. Target organ for indoprofen toxicity is the gastrointestinal tract (ulcerogenic effect). In vitro and in vivo studies of mutagenicity did not show any mutagenic activity. No embryotoxic or teratogenic effect was noted in reproduction toxicity studies in rats, rabbits and monkeys.