According to study results presented, Nexium (esomeprazole), may significantly reduce the risk of ulcers. Nexium, a prescription heartburn medication marketed by AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, is a proton pump inhibitor (a class of drugs which blocks the production and secretion of gastric acid).

There were 585 participants involved in the international, multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled study. All of the study participants were long-term painkiller users, taking an NSAID or COX-2 selective inhibitor for at least 5 days a week for 4 weeks. The participants were randomly assigned treatment with 20 mg or 40 mg Nexium (esomeprazole) or a placebo daily for 6 months.

The study results

* 12.3 percent of participants who were given placebo instead of Nexium developed either a gastric or duodenal ulcer during the 6 month study.
* For the NSAID users (non-COX-2 inhibitor) who received 20 mg or 40 mg of Nexium daily, the ulcer rate was 5.2 percent and 4.4 percent respectively.
* Of the group taking COX-2 inhibitors, 17 percent taking placebo pills developed ulcers.
* None of the group taking COX-2 inhibitors and either dose of Nexium developed ulcers during the study. (This group was not large enough however to be statistically significant.)