6 Week Open-label Trial With Lumiracoxib 200mg o.d. in Primary Knee Osteoarthritis or Rheumatoid Arthritis

Inclusion Criteria: * Requirement of regular NSAID therapy * With primary osteoarthritis of the target knee (by ACR Criteria) or with a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (by ACR Criteria) Exclusion Criteria: * Evidence of active ulceration of the UGI tract within 6 months prior to the screening visit or history of active bleeding of the UGI tract within the previous 5 years. As well as with pyloric or duodenal obstruction or with history of gastrointestinal parasites. * History of cardiac and cerebral thrombotic/ischemic diseases and/or events * Patients taking additional NSAIDs (including COX-2 inhibitors) during the course of the study. Other protocol-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria may apply