Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the main class of drugs used to treat disorders characterized by pain and inflammation, with global sales exceeding $16 billion annually.1 While highly effective, they cause clinically significant gastrointestinal bleeding and ulcers in approximately 25% of users. Despite this longstanding issue, the efficacy and non-addictive nature of NSAIDs position them as drugs-of-choice for physicians and consumers*, with more than 30 billion doses taken annually in the US alone. Notably, NSAIDs have been shown to be as effective as opioids for many types of pain, but are often contraindicated due to the risk of significant gastrointestinal bleeding.
Antibe’s platform targets this major medical problem. By linking a hydrogen sulfide-releasing molecule to an NSAID, we aim to develop a new generation of best-in-class anti-inflammatory, analgesic drugs that do not damage the digestive tract, with the expected benefit of a single tablet administered once-daily, as opposed to multiple daily doses with most NSAIDs.
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* Consumers are familiar with aspirin and brands like Advil (ibuprofen), Aleve (naproxen), Celebrex (celecoxib) and Voltaren (diclofenac). Less well-known, the category includes stronger drugs like indomethacin, ketoprofen and ketorolac—effective at reducing severe pain, but correspondingly more damaging to the digestive tract.