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| |  Prevacid (Lansoprazole) Is Highly Effective in Maintenance of Healed Erosive Esophagitis LAKE FOREST, IL -- May 17, 2002/ -- According to an article in this month's publication of the journal Drugs, Prevacid® (lansoprazole), the #1 prescribed* proton pump inhibitor (PPI) in the United States, is a highly effective therapeutic option for acute treatment and chronic maintenance of erosive esophagitis (EE). Erosive esophagitis is a more severe form of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). GERD may be characterized by frequent and persistent heartburn two or more days per week. Estimates suggest that approximately three percent of the U.S. population has GERD. "Continuous maintenance therapy is very important to a patient's management of erosive esophagitis," says Dr. James Freston, Professor of Medicine, University of Connecticut Health Center, and author of the paper. "Without treatment, a majority of patients may experience esophagitis relapse within 12 months. This review of the data highlight's Prevacid's proven track record in EE." The review, published this month in the journal Drugs, analyzes an extensive body of clinical data regarding Prevacid's safety and efficacy in providing continuous relief of symptoms during chronic therapy and maintaining healing of erosive esophagitis. In addition, the publication outlines the clinical support for long-term management of erosive esophagitis. Among the clinical trials of Prevacid that were reviewed, up to 79 percent of patients taking Prevacid 15 mg daily and up to 90 percent for Prevacid 30 mg daily, remained healed at 12 months. Up to 24 percent of the placebo groups remained healed at 12 months. The recommended adult oral dose for Prevacid in maintaining healed erosive esophagitis is 15 mg once daily. Further confirming Prevacid's effectiveness in maintaining the healing of erosive esophagitis were the low rates of relapse present in studies reviewed at the end of one year of follow up. In addition, a 12-month study compared to ranitidine 150 mg twice daily, a histamine-2 receptor antagonist, to treatment with Prevacid 15 mg daily resulted in patients remaining healed of erosive esophagitis for significantly longer periods of time. Prevacid was significantly more effective than ranitidine in providing complete relief of both daytime and nighttime heartburn. Patients treated with Prevacid remained asymptomatic for a significantly longer period of time than patients treated with ranitidine. About Prevacid® (lansoprazole) In January, TAP filed a supplemental new drug application with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use of Prevacid in pediatric patients, which has been granted six-month priority review. 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; healing of active benign gastric (stomach) ulcer; the treatment and maintenance of healed duodenal ulcer (ulcers found on the first part of the small intestine); treatment of pathological hypersecretory conditions (which involve the overproduction of stomach acid), including Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome; and the healing and risk reduction of gastric ulcer associated with NSAIDs. Symptomatic response to therapy does not preclude the presence of serious stomach problems. Prevacid is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to any component of the formulation. The most frequently reported adverse events include diarrhea, abdominal pain, and nausea. For further information on Prevacid, please see the complete prescribing information and visit http://www.prevacid.com. About TAP Pharmaceutical Products Inc. *IMS HEALTH, National Prescription Audit Plus 7 Weekly (TM), April 2002.
SOURCE: Abbott Laboratories
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