Clinical trials: healing of erosive oesophagitis with dexlansoprazole MR, a proton pump inhibitor with a novel dual delayed-release formulation--results from two randomized controlled studies.

BACKGROUND: Dexlansoprazole MR employs a dual delayed-release delivery system that extends drug exposure and prolongs pH control compared with lansoprazole.

AIM: To assess the efficacy and safety of dexlansoprazole MR in healing erosive oesophagitis (EO).

METHODS: Patients in two identical double-blind, randomized controlled trials (n = 4092) received dexlansoprazole MR 60 or 90 mg or lansoprazole 30 mg once daily. Week 8 healing was assessed using a closed testing procedure--first for non-inferiority, then superiority, vs. lansoprazole. Secondary endpoints included week 4 healing and week 8 healing in patients with moderate-to-severe disease (Los Angeles Classification grades C and D). Life-table and crude rate analyses were performed. Symptoms and tolerability were assessed.

RESULTS: Dexlansoprazole MR achieved non-inferiority to lansoprazole, allowing testing for superiority. Using life-table analysis, dexlansoprazole MR healed 92-95% of patients in individual studies vs. 86-92% for lansoprazole; the differences were not statistically significant (P > 0.025). Using crude rate analysis, dexlansoprazole MR 90 mg was superior to lansoprazole in both studies and 60 mg was superior in one study. Week 4 healing was > 64% with all treatments in both studies. In an integrated analysis of 8-week healing in patients with moderate-to-severe EO, dexlansoprazole MR 90 mg was superior to lansoprazole. All treatments effectively relieved symptoms and were well tolerated.

CONCLUSION: Dexlansoprazole MR is highly effective in healing EO and offers benefits over lansoprazole, particularly in moderate-to-severe disease.