Pain relievers in the same class as Vioxx may not carry the same cardiovascular risk as the blockbuster drug that was withdrawn from the market three weeks ago, a U.S. regulator said on Wednesday. Vioxx is a COX-2 inhibitor, a class of drugs that includes Celebrex and Bextra, made by Pfizer Inc., as well as Arcoxia, the second-generation pain reliever made by Vioxx maker Merck, which is under regulatory review.
