Study design - A strategy for evaluating the novel COX-2 inhibitors versusNSAIDs for arthritis

With the availability of the two new COX-2 inhibitors celecoxib and rofecox ib, drug decision makers must determine whether and how to cover them under the pharmacy benefit, The higher cost and improved side effect profile of the new COX-2 inhibitors must be weighed against the lower cost and equival ent efficacy of the traditional NSAIDs. In this month's column, the authors demonstrate how to develop relevant pharmacoeconomic information to guide drug coverage decisions for these products.