Source: Reproduction  |  Posted 9 years ago

LAKE FOREST, IL -- February 28, 2002 -- According to a new study, the proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) lansoprazole and esomeprazole are highly effective in healing erosive esophagitis. Lansoprazole is the number one prescribed PPI for new prescriptions in the United States.

The study, published in Clinical Drug Investigation, showed that the percentages of healed patients after an eight-week treatment cycle for lansoprazole 30 mg were 91.4 percent and for esomeprazole 40 mg were 89.1 percent. The percentages of heartburn-free patients (day or night) after one day, three days, and one week of treatment for lansoprazole were 34.5 percent, 27.3 percent, 23.1 percent, respectively and for esomeprazole were 27.3 percent, 22.3 percent, 18.7 percent, respectively. The differences seen in these results were not statistically significant.

"This study further establishes the power of lansoprazole in healing erosive esophagitis," said Colin Howden, M.D., professor of medicine, Northwestern University Medical School. "Lansoprazole's clinical experience and high healing rates should be considered when clinicians select a PPI."

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is an often chronic disorder that may result in serious complications such as esophageal strictures and Barrett's esophagus. Heartburn is one of the most common symptoms of GERD and approximately 25 million Americans suffer from heartburn daily.

This randomized, double-blind, eight-week, multi-center trial compared the effectiveness of esomeprazole 40 mg with lansoprazole 30 mg in 284 patients with erosive esophagitis.

The primary efficacy measure was the healing of erosive esophagitis at week eight.
Patients recorded the presence and severity of daytime and nighttime heartburn in daily diaries. The most frequently reported adverse events in the study were diarrhea, eructation (belching) and headache.

PPIs are considered very effective in relieving GERD symptoms and healing injured tissue. Lansoprazole, also known as Prevacid?, is a leading PPI that decreases the production of stomach acid by blocking the tiny pumps responsible for acid secretion and has been shown to be up to 95 percent effective in the healing of erosive GERD. Individual results may vary.

Further underscoring its ongoing commitment to patients and confidence in Prevacid's ability to treat GERD, TAP recently introduced the Prevacid Promise. The Prevacid Promise is a patient satisfaction program that offers a money-back guarantee to patients using Prevacid; those not satisfied with results at the end of the treatment period can get their money back. The Prevacid Promise is the first-ever program of its kind for a proton pump inhibitor.

Patients interested in enrolling in the Prevacid Promise should consult their physician.

Prevacid is currently the number one prescribed PPI for new prescriptions, and in 2001, was the fourth best-selling prescription medication in the United States. It is the only PPI indicated for the healing and risk reduction of gastric (stomach) ulcers associated with NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) and the only PPI with an oral suspension formulation. In January, TAP submitted a supplemental new drug application with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use of Prevacid in pediatric patients. In addition, TAP has filed for a Fast Disintegrating Tablet formulation. TAP hopes for approval of both later this year.

Prevacid has the most administration options and the most approved indications of any PPI, including: the treatment of heartburn and other symptoms of GERD; the treatment and maintenance of erosive esophagitis, a condition in which stomach acid injures the lining of the esophagus; treatment of active benign gastric (stomach) ulcers; the treatment and maintenance of healed ulcers found on the first part of the small intestine known as duodenal ulcers; treatment of pathological hypersecretory conditions (which involve the overproduction of stomach acid), including Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome; and the healing and risk reduction of gastric ulcers associated with NSAIDs.

Symptomatic response to therapy does not preclude the presence of gastric malignancy. Prevacid is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to any component of the formulation. The most frequently reported adverse events with Prevacid include diarrhea, abdominal pain, and nausea.

SOURCE: TAP Pharmaceutical Products