What is "febuxostat"

n. A urate-lowering drug, an inhibitor of xanthine oxidase that is indicated for use in the treatment of hyperuricemia and chronic gout.

Febuxostat ( INN; trade names Adenuric in Europe and New Zealand, Uloric in the US, Goturic in Latin America, Feburic in Japan) is a drug that inhibits xanthine oxidase, thus reducing production of uric acid in the body. It is used in the treatment of chronic gout and hyperuricemia.

Febuxostat was discovered by scientists at the Japanese pharmaceutical company Teijin in 1998. Teijin partnered the drug with TAP Pharmaceuticals in the US and Ipsen in Europe. Ipsen obtained marketing approval for febuxostat from the European Medicines Agency in April 2008, Takeda obtained FDA approval in February 2009, and Teijin obtained approval from the Japanese " Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency" in 2011.