Comparative activities, tolerances and safety of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents in rats.

Relative anti-inflammatory potencies of aspirin, phenylbutazone, indomethacin, three fenamates and several other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents were obtained in several laboratory models of acute and chronic inflammation. Relative toxicities and ulcerogenicities were determined in rats of the same source, strain and sex. The acute ulcerogenic assay measures the minimal irritation potential of these agents and leads to a sensitive index of the safety of such compounds when compared with their therapeutic potencies. By these criteria, meclofenamic acid is a highly potent, acceptably safe and exceptionally well tolerated anti-inflammatory-antipyretic agent in rats when compared with other such drugs.