Description: A new cox-2 painkiller called etoricoxib causes fewer upper gastrointestinal problems than the traditional pain medicine diclofenac, researchers report.

"In the trial, there was a difference in the overall events between the two drugs," said lead researcher Dr. Loren Laine, a professor of medicine at the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine. "There was not a significant difference seen in the more serious and less common events, like major bleeding. The difference was largely seen in the uncomplicated ulcers, which are symptomatic but not generally life-threatening."

The study is published in the Feb. 10 issue of The Lancet.

Etoricoxib (brand name Arcoxia) is a cox-2 inhibitor that has not been approved for use in the United States yet, although it is being used in Europe. Cox-2 drugs, such as Celebrex, Vioxx and Bextra, were developed to be less damaging to the stomach and intestinal tract. But, several of the cox-2 drug