AstraZeneca: study shows Nexium better than Prevacid in preventing recurrence of erosive esophagitis

By Lisa Kerner

Charlotte, N.C., July 25 - AstraZeneca said a new study of more than 1,000 patients with healed erosive esophagitis (EE) showed that Nexium (esomeprazole magnesium) is more effective than lansoprazole (Prevacid) in preventing a recurrence.

In addition, Nexium was shown to be as equally effective in reducing erosive esophagitis associated symptoms.

In the double-blind, randomized, double-dummy, parallel-group trial, more patients who took Nexium 20 mg once daily maintained healing of erosive esophagitis over six months compared with patients treated with lansoprazole 15 mg once daily.

The results of this latest study corroborate results from previous head-to-head trials demonstrating the efficacy of Nexium in comparison to other proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) in maintaining erosive esophageal healing, according to a company news release.

"The challenge in treating erosive esophagitis is that many patients who are successfully treated with an acid-suppressing medication, such as a PPI, will commonly relapse within a year if that medication is discontinued," lead study investigator Kenneth DeVault said in a company news release.

"Reflux symptoms are chronic in many patients, particularly those with erosive esophagitis."

The study results were published in the latest issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

AstraZeneca is an international pharmaceutical and health care services company located in Wilmington, Del.

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