In vitro activity: Nimesulide is a selective COX-2 inhibitor used in a variety of inflammatory, pain and fever states. After healthy volunteers received oral nimesulide 100 mg in tablet, granule or suspension form the drug was rapidly and extensively absorbed. Mean peak concentrations (Cmax) of 2.86 to 6.50 mg/L were achieved within 1.22 to 2.75 hours of administration. Nimesulide is an NSAID which exerts its analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic activities thanks to unique chemical and pharmacokinetic characteristics, and to a multifactorial mechanism of action, which goes beyond its preferential inhibitory activity on the COX-2 enzyme. Nimesulide was found to be at least as effective, or superior, to placebo and other NSAIDs, with a particularly fast onset of analgesic action. nimesulide remains an effective and safe therapeutic choice for the treatment of various painful inflammatory conditions, with a rapid onset of analgesic activity and an overall positive benefit/risk profile.

Cell Assay: 5×105 viable cells are carefully dislodged with sterile Pasteur pipettes, transferred into new flasks and incubated with two different doses of Nimesulide (10 and 50 µM) for another 24 h. Incubations for different doses of Nimesulide are repeated three times. The culture supernatant is then collected and stored in small aliquots at -70°C until studied. VEGF, MCP-1 and IL-8 concentrations are determined by sandwich quantitative enzyme immunoassay (ELISA) using commercial kits