The purpose of this 6 month study is to determine how safe and effective meloxicam oral suspension (liquid taken by mouth) is in children with JRA.

The primary aim of this trial is to compare the efficacy and safety of several doses of meloxicam oral suspension (0.125 mg/kg and 0.25 mg/kg with a 0.125 mg/kg dose escalation at 4 weeks) administered once daily with naproxen oral suspension (10 mg/kg with a dose escalation to15 mg/kg at 4 weeks administered in divided doses twice daily) over a period of 12 weeks in the treatment of patients with JRA. The 12-week double-blind portion of the trial is followed by an open-label extension of meloxicam oral suspension at 0.375 mg/kg/day to obtain additional safety information. A subgroup of patients will participate in a pharmacokinetic study at the conclusion of the open label extension phase.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Males or females 2-17 years old.
• Diagnosis of JRA for at least 6 weeks, onset of disease less than 16 years old.
• Current course of disease pauciarthritic, extended pauciarthritic, or polyarthritic.
• Active arthritis of at least 2 joints.
• Patient requires therapy with an NSAID.
• At screening, patient has at least 2 abnormal variables among the following: CHAQ, ESR, Investigator’s Assessment of Overall Disease Activity, or Parent’s Assessment of Overall Well-Being.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Systemic course of JRA
• Weight less than 9kg
• History of bleeding disorders, gastrointestinal bleeding, peptic ulcer, cerebrovascular bleeding, rheumatic conditions other than JRA, or any disease that could interfere with the trial or the child’s safety.