Etoricoxib is a selective COX‑2 inhibitor (a “coxib”) used for symptomatic relief of inflammatory and painful conditions such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, acute gout, and postoperative dental pain. It preferentially blocks COX‑2 over COX‑1 (about 100‑fold selectivity), reducing prostaglandin synthesis that drives inflammation and pain while sparing platelet and gastric COX‑1 activity.