Traditional NSAIDs are dual cyclo-oxygenase (COX)-inhibitors, i.e. they inhibit both COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes. However, many patients experience adverse gastrointestinal (GI) events with standard NSAIDs. The advent of COX-2 specific inhibitors, such as celecoxib ['Celebrex'] and rofecoxib ['Vioxx'], has allowed for a new treatment option for patients with osteoarthritis (OA), rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and acute musculoskeletal pain. These new agents provide anti-inflammatory and analgesic benefit without the adverse GI events associated with the standard NSAIDs. Celecoxib was the subject of 2 modelling studies presented at a poster session at this year's European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) meeting, held in Nice, France, in July.