Etoricoxib, sold under the brand name Arcoxia, is a selective COX-2 inhibitor developed and commercialized by Merck.

"[5] A Cochrane review assessed the benefits of single-dose etoricoxib in the reduction of acute post-operative pain in adults.

[6] Single-dose oral etoricoxib provides four times more pain relief post-operatively than placebo, with equivalent levels of adverse events.

Selective COX-2 inhibitors show less activity on COX-1 compared to traditional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID).

[15] Like rofecoxib's VIGOR trial, the MEDAL Program was also criticized, this time due to Merck's choice of comparator group.