Dual inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) as a new strategy to provide safer non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Dual COX/5-LOX (cyclooxygenase/5-lipoxygenase) inhibitors constitute a valuable alternative to classical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and selective COX-2 inhibitors for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. Indeed, these latter present diverse side effects, which are reduced or absent in dual-acting agents. In this review, COX and 5-LOX pathways are first described in order to highlight the therapeutic interest of designing such compounds. Various structural families of dual inhibitors are illustrated.