Celebrex was created to combat the effects of osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). When Pharmacia (recently acquired by Pfizer) introduced Vioxx in 1999 it was an unparalleled scientific breakthrough in this area. Celebrex was heralded as the future of pain medications and was rushed to the shelves by both Pharmacia and the FDA.

Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are among the most prevalent chronic illnesses and leading causes of disability in the United States. The enzymes responsible for these two illnesses are named COX-1 and COX-2, and have been the target of arthritis therapy using nonselective NSAIDs. An understanding of the COX enzymes has allowed for the development of agents that specifically inhibit COX-2. COX-2-selective inhibitors work similar to NSAIDS, but have a lower potential for upper gastrointestinal injury, a serious side effect of nonselective NSAIDs. COX-2-selective inhibitors represent a significant advance in the treatment of arthritis and other related inflammatory conditions. Science has found that the ability to inhibit COX-2 while sparing COX-1 should provide therapeutic benefits in the management of pain and inflammation, without deleterious effects on the integrity of upper gastrointestinal tract. Celebrex is one such COX-2 inhibitor.