Eugenia Radkova et al. conducted a randomized, non-inferiority trial in the Russian Federation to assess the efficacy of flurbiprofen 8.75 mg delivered as a spray or lozenge in patients with sore throat respiratory tract infection (upper respiratory tract infection; URTI).

To study randomized 440 adults a single dose of either flurbiprofen 8.75 mg spray (n=218) or flurbiprofen 8.75 mg lozenge (n=222) was administered. The presence or absence of beta-hemolytic streptococci (A or C) was confirmed by culture tests (throat swab). The primary and secodary efficacy end point was the difference from baseline to 2 hours post-dose in sore throat pain intensity scale (STPIS pain intensity difference [PID] 2h) and at 1 hour (STPIS PID 1h) and over 2 hours (STPIS sum of sore throat pain intensity differences [SPID]0–2h),  respectively.  A validated 100 mm visual analog scale (VAS) (from 0=“no pain” to 100=“severe pain”), with a non-inferiority margin of −6 mm was used. Safety (adverse events) assessed to  reductions in sore throat pain intensity at 2 hours (STPIS PID 2h) was similar for spray (least square mean −40.51) and lozenge (−40.10) (difference: 0.41, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] −3.20, 4.01), with non-inferiority demonstrated. Subgroup analyses for Strep A or C showed similar efficacy (STPIS PID 2h) for patients testing positive or negative. There was no significant difference between spray and lozenge in STPIS PID 1h or STPIS SPID0–2h,  with 17 drug-related events, all being mild and none being serious. Both formulations on their preference demonstrated comparable efficacy and safety profiles and provided two different treatment options to choose from for effective symptomatic relief of sore throat.