Primus' Limbrel for OA launched in USA

Limbrel, the first prescription product developed to safely meet the nutritional requirements of patients with osteoarthritis, is being introduced in the USA by Arizona-based Primus Pharmaceuticals. OA is the most common form of arthritis, and currently afflicts more than 20 million Americans. The active ingredient of the product is flavocoxid, a proprietary blend of natural flavonoid ingredients from food sources.

Physicians have been prescribing traditional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and COX-2 inhibitors for patients, but ongoing revelations about possible serious side effects associated with these drugs over the last 18 months have left many patients and physicians with increasing safety concerns, the company says.

Primus points out that Limbrel represents an entirely new approach to managing OA with a breakthrough in patient safety. It is regulated as a medical food, which means it has been developed to meet the specific nutritional needs of patients with OA and can only be taken under the supervision of a physician. Additionally, its ingredients meet the strict regulatory safety standard of Generally Recognized as Safe. The standard for an ingredient to achieve GRAS status requires not only technical demonstration of non-toxicity and safety, but also general recognition and agreement on that safety by experts in the field. In addition, GRAS safety status is supported by widespread consumption of key ingredients by millions of people over generations of time, the firm notes.