Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41257112›Full record

ArticleCureus2025

Evaluation of Polmacoxib 2 mg for the Management of Hip and Knee Osteoarthritis: A Prospective, Single-Arm, Multicenter, Open-Label Study.

Rakesh Verma, Rajiv Gupta, Pravin Waghmare, Sanjeev Kumar Kare, Ajit K Kar, Urvi K Mistry, Milind Bhole, Swapnil Deshpande, Sujay Patil

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Cureus, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Rakesh VermaOrthopedics, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Ajmer, Ajmer, IND.
Rajiv GuptaOrthopedics, Bhandari Hospital and Research Centre, Jaipur, IND.
Pravin WaghmareOrthopedics, Punawale Multispeciality Hospital, Pune, IND.
Sanjeev Kumar KareOrthopedics, Government Medical College, Srikakulam, Srikakulam, IND.
Ajit K KarOrthopedics, Shanti Memorial Hospital, Cuttack, IND.
Urvi K MistryMedicine, Abbott Healthcare Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai, IND.
Milind BholeEstablished Pharmaceuticals Division, Abbott Healthcare Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai, IND.
Swapnil DeshpandeMedical Affairs, Abbott Healthcare Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai, IND.
Sujay PatilClinical Research and Development, Abbott Healthcare Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai, IND.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposePolmacoxib is a novel cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) selective inhibitor with effective analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties and a favorable safety profile. This study evaluated polmacoxib's effectiveness, onset of action, and tolerability in Indian patients with knee or hip osteoarthritis.

methodThis was a prospective, multicenter, single-arm, open-label, observational study among Indian patients with knee/hip osteoarthritis. All patients with knee/hip osteoarthritis received polmacoxib capsule 2 mg orally once daily for six weeks. Patients were followed up for eight weeks (six weeks of treatment + two-week follow-up). Outcomes evaluated were pain, stiffness, and physical function using Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) (CRD Pune version), severity of pain by Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and time of onset of action (in minutes), post-taking the first dose of polmacoxib 2 mg capsule on Day 1. Safety and compliance were monitored throughout the study period.

resultsIn the study, 150 (male: female, 89:61) patients with a mean (standard deviation, or SD) age of 46.6 (9.9) years were enrolled. Statistically and clinically significant improvements were observed in all parameters. The mean (SD) pain score on the WOMAC Index declined significantly by -2.6 (2.1) and -5.9 (3.1) at Weeks 3 and 6, respectively, compared to the baseline score of 11.4 (4.6). Compared to the baseline mean (SD) score of 4.9 (2.1), the stiffness score on the WOMAC Index declined significantly by -1.0 (1.0) at Week 3, and by -2.4 (1.3) at Week 6. Mean (SD) difficulty (in physical function) score on the WOMAC Index declined significantly by -7.8 (5.9) and by -19.8 (10.2) at Weeks 3 and 6 respectively, compared to the baseline score of 41.6 (15.7), leading to a significant decline in total WOMAC Index by -11.4 (7.9) and by -28.1 (13.8) at Weeks 3 and 6 respectively, compared to the baseline score of 57.9 (21.9). The mean (SD) intensity of pain score (VAS) also declined significantly by -1.3 (1.3) and -2.9 (1.9) at Weeks 3 and 6, respectively, compared to the baseline score of 7.5 (0.9). Six (4.0%), 69 (46.0%), 62 (41.3%), and 13 (8.7%) of patients reported the onset of action of the study drug within 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes of the first dose, respectively. The drug was well tolerated, with only 2% of patients experiencing mild, unrelated adverse events. Tolerability was rated "Excellent to Very Good" in 96.0% of cases by investigators and 89.3% of patients.

conclusionPolmacoxib 2 mg demonstrated early onset of symptom relief, significant improvements in clinical symptoms, and an acceptable safety and tolerability profile over a six-week treatment period, suggesting that polmacoxib is a well-tolerated treatment option for osteoarthritis patients necessitating effective and rapid symptom control with minimal systemic side effects.

Indexed as

cyclooxygenase 2 inhibitorosteoarthritispain managementpolmacoxibwomac index

Identifiers

PMID41257112
PMCPMC12620752

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.