Recent advances in non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs

Recent advances in NSAID, particularly those developed in Japan, are described. They may be classified into some categories. Firstly, useful new compounds such as propionic acids which have an excellent pharmacological activity with mild side-effects have been developed. Secondly, the progress of drug delivery systems (DDS) has been observed in the treatment with NSAID. Thirdly, a new type of NSAID, whose mechanism of action is different from the inhibition of cyclooxygenase. Lastly, NSAID are widely used against not only inflammatory disease but also the other diseases in which prostaglandins and thrombosis have an important role in pathogenesis.