Definitions for "rofecoxib"
Keywords:  vioxx, merck, cox, nonsteroidal, nsaid
A chemical substance (C17H14O4S, molecular weight 314.36) used in medicine as an analgesic to alleviate pain and inflammation; it is a synthetic compound, and is marketed by Merck & Co. under the trade name Vioxx, in tablets giving dosages of 12.5 or 25 milligrams. It is classed as a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Chemically, it is 4-[4-(methylsulfony)phenyl]-3-phenyl-2(5H) furanone. Its chemical structure contains two phenyl rings and a furanone ring. It is believed to act by inhibition of prostaglandin biosynthesis, through inhibition of the enzyme cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2); unlike aspirin, it does not inhibit cyclooxygenase-1.
A drug that was being used for pain relief and was being studied for its ability to prevent cancer and to block the growth of new blood vessels to solid tumors. It belongs to the family of drugs called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Rofecoxib was taken off the market in the U.S. because of safety concerns. Also called Vioxx.
a Cox-2 inhibitor (trade name Vioxx) that relieves pain without harming the digestive tract