20+ Years of Safety Data, Clinical Trials & Real-World Use Confirm Positive Benefit/Risk Profile of ALEVE®

WHIPPANY, N.J., Nov. 13, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- In over 20 years of safety data monitoring and availability as a non-prescription pain reliever, Bayer has seen no change in the positive benefit/risk profile of Aleve.  

Results published today from the Pfizer-sponsored PRECISION (Prospective Randomized Evaluation of Celecoxib Integrated Safety vs. Ibuprofen Or Naproxen) trial are not applicable to the over-the-counter pain reliever ALEVE.

The trial, which was requested by the US FDA to evaluate the cardiovascular (CV) risk profile of Pfizer's celecoxib, studied long-term use (18-36 months) of higher-dosed prescription drugs in arthritis patients at increased CV risk. 

The PRECISION trial did not study the lower, non-prescription naproxen sodium dose contained in ALEVE*, nor the labeled direction of occasional, short-term use. Therefore, it is inappropriate to apply these trial results to ALEVE.  

Consumers should not be confused by reports of relative risk ratios in PRECISION, which make risk appear dramatically inflated when this is not the finding of the science nor the study.  Clinically significant reported GI effects were actually very low across all treatments -- including prescription doses of naproxen -- and importantly, not statistically different.  

The risk of serious GI side effects with naproxen sodium is well-studied and rare when taken as directed for short-term pain relief.^[i] ** In PRECISION, even with long-term higher prescription doses, a very low absolute GI event rate was reported for naproxen, and was only 0.4% higher than those seen with celecoxib (1.5% vs 1.1% respectively).  

When taken as directed, Aleve safely and effectively relieves occasional pain. More doctors recommend Aleve than any other over-the-counter arthritis pain product, and it is the number one brand recommended by orthopedic doctors for minor arthritis pain.^[ii]

* Up to 10 days at ≤660 mg per day

** All NSAID-containing products, including celecoxib, ibuprofen and naproxen, carry label warnings related to GI risk. Clinical trial data for naproxen demonstrates that GI bleeding is rare (0.01% to <0.1%, i.e., occurring in 1 in 10,000 to 1 in 1000 patients).

Bayer: Science For A Better Life
Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the Life Science fields of health care and agriculture. Its products and services are designed to benefit people and improve their quality of life. At the same time, the Group aims to create value through innovation, growth and high earning power. Bayer is committed to the principles of sustainable development and to its social and ethical responsibilities as a corporate citizen. In fiscal 2015, the Group employed around 117,000 people and had sales of EUR 46.3 billion. Capital expenditures amounted to EUR 2.6 billion, R&D expenses to EUR 4.3 billion. These figures include those for the high-tech polymers business, which was floated on the stock market as an independent company named Covestro on October 6, 2015. For more information, go to www.bayer.com.

Find more information at bayer.com

Forward-Looking Statements
This release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Bayer's public reports which are available on the Bayer website at www.bayer.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.

[i] Company Core Data Sheet for Naproxen, Bayer.

[i] Naproxen Sodium Periodic Safety Update Reports 2007-2015. Data on file, Bayer.

[i] Tarone RE, Blot WJ, McLaughlin JK. Nonselective nonaspirin nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and gastrointestinal bleeding: relative and absolute risk estimates from recent epidemiologic studies. Am J Ther. 2004 Jan-Feb;11(1):17-25.

[i] Zhang W, et al. OARSI recommendations for the management of hip and knee osteoarthritis, Part II: OARSI evidence-based, expert consensus guidelines. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage 2008; 16:137-162, doi:10.1016/j.joca.2007.12.013

[i] Bansal V, et al. A look at the safety profile of over-the-counter naproxen sodium: a meta-analysis. J Clin Pharmacol 2001; 41: 127-138.

[i] DeArmond B, et al. Safety profile of over-the-counter naproxen sodium.  Clin Ther 1995; 17: 587-601.

[i] Lewis JD, et al. Risk of serious upper gastrointestinal toxicity with over-the-counter nonaspirin nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Gastroenterology 2005; 129: 1865-1874.

[i] Biskupiak JE, et al. Gastrointestinal Complications of Over-the-Counter Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory Drugs.  J Pain Palliat Care Pharmacother 2006; 20(3):7-14.

[i] Mellemkjaer L, et al. Upper gastrointestinal bleeding among users of NSAIDs: a population-based cohort study in Denmark. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2002 Feb;53(2):173-81.

[ii] Data on file, Bayer.

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SOURCE Bayer Corporation

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