The COX-2 inhibitor DFP [5, 5-dimethyl-3-(2-propoxy)-4-methanesulfonylphenyl)-2 (5H)- furanone] was found to have a long half-life in humans. Analogues have been characterized in order to optimize pharmacokinetics. This has lead to the discovery of 5 (S)-(5-ethyl-5- methyl-3-(2-propoxy)-4-methanesulfonylphenyl)-2 (5H)-furanone analogue 11 a potent and selective COX-2 inhibitor which is metabolized to a greater extent than DFP upon ...