Abstract: Provided herein are compounds of formula (I) as well as compounds of formula (I) which are prodrugs in which the (R7)a-phenyl-S(O)2NH group represents a sulphonamide-bond compound, compositions and methods for preventing or treating gastrointestinal diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer, wherein the method comprises delivering an effective amount of a COX-2 or a similar sulphonamide inhibitor as a prodrug or a derivative thereof to the colon, wherein the COX-2 or similar inhibitor is released in vivo.