Actually, they understand how aspirin works, now, it inhibits the production of prostaglandins by inhibiting cyclooxygenase enzymes. But aspirin inhibits both COX-1, which is beneficial, and COX-2, which isn't. Inhibiting COX-1 leads to gastric bleeding, which can be fatal for people who take a lot of aspirin or other NSAIDS. That's why Celebrex and Vioxx were developed, they are selective COX-2 inhibiters. And actually, aspirin was prescribed before the FDA was established. But your larger point, which is that aspirin's mechanism was not understood, but aspirin was prescribed anyway, for decades, is true.
(I take a lot of Celebrex. Good stuff, but I am glad my HMO pays for it.) |
