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| |  UEGF: Nexium (Esomeprazole) Optimal Treatment for Reflux Esophagitis MISSISSAUGA, ON -- November 14, 2003 -- Study results announced recently from the United European Gastroenterology Federation Annual Congress find that esomeprazole 40mg (Nexium®) offers superior healing rates and symptom resolution compared to pantoprazole 40mg in patients with erosive esophagitis. In previous comparative studies, Nexium® was shown to provide more effective healing of erosive esophagitis and faster symptom control than omeprazole and lansoprazole.,, Nexium® ranks better than all PPIs in the area of acid control,,, which is related to the healing of esophagitis, an inflammation of the lining of the esophagus caused in most cases by the digestive juices in the stomach repeatedly moving upwards into the lower esophagus (acid reflux). The Study "Given that six out of ten adults who see their family doctor with symptoms of dyspepsia have underlying gastrointestinal damage - and that three quarters of those with damage have erosive esophagitis - physicians should be treating with the best PPI," says Dr. David Armstrong, Division of Gastroenterology, McMaster University, Hamilton, and coordinating investigator in the EXPO study for Canada. "The EXPO study findings, in conjunction with previous published studies comparing esomeprazole with omeprazole and lansoprazole, reveal that esomeprazole provides the greatest likelihood of healing esophageal erosions in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease." Results from the EXPO study reveal that patients treated with Nexium® achieved significantly higher healing rates (p<0.001) and experienced more sustained resolution of heartburn than patients treated with pantoprazole throughout the four-week treatment. Patients in the Nexium® treatment group also achieved sustained resolution of heartburn two days faster than those treated with pantoprazole (p<0.001). Significantly, more patients treated with Nexium® 40mg achieved complete resolution of heartburn (p<0.01) and dysphagia symptoms (p<0.05) after 4 weeks compared with those treated with pantoprazole. "Proton pump inhibitors have been found to be the most effective class of medications for the treatment of upper gastrointestinal disease. However, within the PPI class, there are differences in efficacy that impact patient outcomes and have implications for the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of treatment," comments Dr. Armstrong. "Appropriately powered comparison studies are, therefore, very important as they provide the necessary data that allow physicians to follow evidence-based treatment guidelines in recommending superior acid-suppression for first-line therapy." Nexium® is indicated for treatment of conditions where reduction of gastric acid secretion is required such as: reflux esophagitis, maintenance treatment of patients with reflux esophagitis, symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux disease (i.e. heartburn and regurgitation), and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication. Nexium®, in combination with clarithromycin and amoxicillin, is indicated for the treatment of patients with duodenal ulcer disease associated with H. pylori infection to eradicate the H. pylori and heal ulcers. Eradication of H. pylori has been shown to reduce the risk of duodenal ulcer recurrence. References: Richter JE et al. Am J Gastroenterol. 2001;96:656-65. Kahrilas PJ et al. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2000;14:1249-1258. Castell et al. Am J Gastroent. 2002;97:575-583. Miner P et al. Gastroenterology 2003;1(24) Suppl 1:A229. Lind T et al. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2000;14:861-867. Röhss K et al. Dig Dis Sci. 2002 May;47(5):954-8.
SOURCE: AstraZeneca
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