Valdecoxib inhibits LPS-induced PGE production in plasma with IC50 of 0.89 μM for assessment of the extent of COX-2 inhibition. Valdecoxib inhibits TxB production in plasma with IC50 of 25.4 μM for assessment of the extent of COX-1 inhibition. Valdecoxib binds to COX-2 with Ka of 1.1×10 M/s. The overall saturation binding affinity for COX-2 of Valdecoxib is 2.6 nM. Valdecoxib shows similar activity in the human whole-blood COX assay (COX-2 IC50 = 0.24 μM; COX-1 IC50 = 21.9 μM). The affinity of [H]Valdecoxib for COX-2 with K of 3.2 nM. The binding of Valdecoxib to COX-2 seems to be both rapid and slowly reversible with association rates of 4.5 × 10/M/min and dissociation rates of 7.0 × 10/min (t of 98 min). The percent of dissolved Valdecoxib at 15 min (DP) is 10.5% for Valdecoxib and 50%, 91% and 93% for its hydrophilic derivatives (VALD-βCd, VALD-HPβCd and VALD-SBE7βCd complexes), respectively.
In vivo
Valdecoxib administrated orally inhibits rat carrageenan foot pad edema with ED50 of 10.2 mg/kg. Valdecoxib administrated orally shows chronic antiinflammatory activity with ED50 of 0.032 mg/kg/day in rat adjuvant arthritis model. Valdecoxib administrated orally shows blockade of prostaglandin production at the inflammatory site with ED50 of 0.02 mg/kg in the rat carrageenan air pouch model. Valdecoxib demonstrates marked potency in acute and chronic models of inflammation (air pouch ED50 = 0.06 mg/kg; paw edema ED50 = 5.9 mg/kg; adjuvant arthritis ED50 = 0.03 mg/kg) in rats. Valdecoxib alone shows slow in vivo absorption giving maximum % inhibition of edema (16%) after a period of 3 hour. In contrast, VALD-βCd and VALD-SBE7βCd complexes shows high absorption rate in vivo achieving more than 50% inhibition of edema in the 1 hour and maximum percentage of inhibition of edema (66%) after a period of 3 hours. Valdecoxib (5 mg/kg, po) results in AUC in plasma of 3.58 μg*h/mL and 2.08 μg*h/mL in males and female mice, respectively. Valdecoxib (5 mg/kg, po) results in AUC red blood cells of 12.1 μg*h/mL and 6.42 μg*h/mL in males and female mice, respectively.