Pfizer pharmaceuticals, by way of an independent research grant, is funding a 3 year trial into the effectiveness of traditional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), such as ibuprofen and diclofenac, and a newer one called celecoxib. Pfizer, which markets celecoxib under the brand name Celebrex, is spending £26 million ($52.5 million) on the study.

The Standard Care vs. Celecoxib Outcome Trial (SCOT) will be led by the University of Dundee in partnership with the Universities of Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen. Scotland was chosen for this research because of its unique patient electronic registration and tracking systems.

Participants in the study must be over age 60 and current users of NSAIDs. It is estimated that 16,000 patients and 400 general practitioners will participate. About 9 million people in the UK are afflicted with some form of arthritis and nearly 215,000 in Scotland have osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.

Clinical pharmacology Professor Tom MacDonald of the University of Dundee, the lead investigator, said, “This trial is of international significance because it will compare the various NSAID treatments prescribed for arthritis sufferers in usual care. There has been a long-running debate as to the most effective pain relief with fewest side-effects. This study will help us draw some solid conclusions to benefit arthritis sufferers.”

According to Pfizer’s website, more than 1 million prescriptions for Celebrex are filled each month in the U.S. and that is has never been taken off the market.