Clinical trial: efficacy and safety of dexlansoprazole MR 60 and 90 mg in healed erosive oesophagitis – maintenance of healing and symptom relief

BACKGROUND: Dexlansoprazole MR, a modified-release formulation of dexlansoprazole, an enantiomer of lansoprazole, effectively heals erosive oesophagitis. AIM: To assess dexlansoprazole MR in maintaining healed erosive oesophagitis. METHODS: Patients (n = 451) with erosive oesophagitis healed in either of two dexlansoprazole MR healing trials randomly received dexlansoprazole MR 60 or 90 mg or placebo once daily in this double-blind trial. The percentage of patients who maintained healing at month 6 was analysed using life table and crude rate methods. Secondary endpoints were percentages of nights and of 24-h days without heartburn based on daily diaries. RESULTS: Dexlansoprazole MR 60 and 90 mg were superior to placebo for maintaining healing (P < 0.0025). Maintenance rates were 87% and 82% for the 60 and 90 mg doses, respectively, vs. 26% for placebo (life table), and 66% and 65% vs. 14%, respectively (crude rate). Both doses were superior to placebo for the percentage of 24-h heartburn-free days (60 mg, 96%; 90 mg, 94%; placebo, 19%) and nights (98%, 97%, and 50%, respectively). Diarrhoea, flatulence, gastritis (symptoms) and abdominal pain occurred more frequently with dexlansoprazole MR than placebo, but were not dose-related. CONCLUSION: Dexlansoprazole MR effectively maintained healed erosive oesophagitis and symptom relief compared with placebo, and was well tolerated.