Clinical trial: dexlansoprazole MR, a proton pump inhibitor with dual delayed-release technology, effectively controls symptoms and prevents relapse in patients with healed erosive oesophagitis.

Background: Dexlansoprazole MR heals all grades of erosive oesophagitis (EO).
Aim: To assess efficacy and safety of dexlansoprazole MR in maintaining healed EO and heartburn relief.
Methods: In this randomized, double-blind trial, 445 patients with healed EO received dexlansoprazole MR 30 mg or 60 mg or placebo once daily for 6 months. This trial assessed maintenance of endoscopic healing (primary endpoint) and continued symptom relief based on daily diaries (secondary endpoints).
Results: Dexlansoprazole MR 30 mg and 60 mg were superior to placebo for maintaining healed EO (P < 0.0025; Hochberg's). By life-table analysis, maintenance rates were 75%, 83% and 27% for dexlansoprazole MR 30 mg, 60 mg and placebo respectively. Crude maintenance rates were 66% for both dexlansoprazole MR doses and 14% for placebo. Dexlansoprazole MR controlled heartburn (medians of 91-96% for 24-h heartburn-free days, 96-99% for heartburn-free nights). The only more common adverse event occurring at a significantly higher rate in dexlansoprazole MR groups than placebo when analysed per patient-months of exposure was upper respiratory tract infection.
Conclusions: Dexlansoprazole MR effectively maintained EO healing and symptom relief; most patients were heartburn-free for >90% of days. Both doses were well tolerated.