The story
From rofe- (of unknown origin) + -coxib (“selective cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor”).
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
rofecoxib
Today it means: A COX-2 inhibitor C₁₇H₁₄O₄S (trademark Vioxx) used to relieve the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, to manage acute pain in adults, and to treat primary dysmenorrhea but withdrawn from sale by the manufacturer because of its link to cardiovascular events (as heart attack and stroke). Full definition →