Neurology

Mouse studies suggest inhibiting COX-2 could help treat autosomal dominant lateral temporal lobe epilepsy (ADLTE), which is caused by LGI1 mutations. In cortex samples from a LGI1-knockout mouse model of ADLTE, levels of COX-2 expression and activity were higher than in cortex samples from normal mice. Also in the model, the COX-2 inhibitor Celebrex celecoxib delayed disease onset and increased survival compared with no treatment. In a LGI1-haploinsufficient mouse model of ADLTE, Celebrex decreased seizure frequency and scores of seizure severity. Ongoing work includes clinical testing of Celebrex or an undisclosed COX-2 inhibitor in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy.

Pfizer Inc. and Astellas Pharma Inc. market Celebrex to treat pain, adenomatous polyps, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. Pfizer also markets the compound to treat inflammation and has the compound in Phase II/III testing to treat skin cancer and Phase II testing to treat lung cancer...