A new study suggests that esomeprazole (Nexium) may be as effective in treating symptoms of chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease as laparoscopic antireflux surgery. The study, funded by esomeprazole maker AstraZeneca, found that both the surgery and medication patients had similar rates of remission after three years. The level of reflux control appeared to be slightly better in the surgical group, but those patients also reported more gastrointestinal tract symptoms such as abdominal pain.