Randomized clinical trial: 7-day vonoprazan-based versus 14-day omeprazole-based triple therapy for Helicobacter pylori

Cost-effective endoscopic screening for gastric cancer in a cohort with low Helicobacter pylori prevalence

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Periodic endoscopic screening for gastric cancer (GC) is widely performed in East Asia; however, the optimal screening strategy remains unclear. This study aimed to determine the most cost-effective endoscopic screening strategy for the detection and treatment of GC in a cohort with a low Helicobacter pylori prevalence.

METHODS

The following data were retrospectively extracted from participants who received screening endoscopy between April 2019 and March 2023: age, H. pylori infection status, presence of intestinal metaplasia, pathological diagnosis of GC, and the interval between the most recent endoscopies. A Markov state transition model was constructed based on the cohort data. The cost-effectiveness of 15 strategies with different starting ages (40/50/60 years) and screening intervals (1/2/3/4/5 years) was compared. The net monetary benefit (NMB) and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of quality-adjusted life-years gained by treatment were used as outcomes.

RESULTS

A simulation model was constructed based on the cohort data of 94 137 participants (mean age 54.5 years, males 57.9%; 74.4% H. pylori-naïve, 94.2% intestinal metaplasia-negative). The results of the base-case analysis showed that the screening strategy of 4-year intervals starting at the age of 40 years had the highest NMB (97 401 578 yen). In both the Monte Carlo simulation and one-way sensitivity analysis with a varying probability of H. pylori infection status transition, the ICER was superior in the screening strategy every 4 years, starting at age 40 years.

CONCLUSIONS

Our simulation showed that endoscopic screening at 4-year intervals starting at the age of 40 years was the most cost-effective method.

P-CAB versus PPI in the eradication of Helicobacter pylori: a systematic review and network meta-analysis

Background

The efficacy and safety of potassium-competitive acid blockers (P-CABs) in the eradication of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) remains controversial when compared with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs).

Objectives

The current study set out to compare the differences in the eradication rate and adverse reactions between eradication regimens based on P-CAB or PPI drugs and the differences between the vonoprazan-based and the tegoprazan-based regimens to explore the efficacy and safety of different Hp eradication regimens.

Data sources and methods

Databases including PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and WOS were searched from the inception of these databases up to July 2023, and eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included. The outcome measures were the eradication rate and the incidence of adverse reactions of different regimens in treating Hp. The results were estimated as relative risk (RR) and its 95% confidence interval (CI), and R 4.2.1 software was used to perform the network meta-analysis (NMA).

Results

A total of 20 studies were included in the analysis, involving 5815 patients with Hp. In terms of eradication rate, the 2-week vonoprazan-based triple regimen (V-Tri-2w) was the best, which was superior to the 2-week PPI-based quadruple regimen [P-Qua-2w, RR = 0.9, 95% CI: (0.85-0.95)] and the 1-week tegoprazan-based triple regimen [T-Tri-1w, RR = 0.79, 95% CI: (0.64-0.97)]; the 2-week tegoprazan-based quadruple regimen (T-Qua-2w) was superior to the 1-week PPI-based triple regimen [P-Tri-1w, RR = 0.82, 95% CI: (0.67-0.99)], and there was no difference between the remaining tegoprazan-based regimens and the PPI-based or vonoprazan-based regimens. In terms of the incidence of adverse reactions, the 2-week vonoprazan-based binary regimen (V-Bi-2w) was lower than that of the 2-week PPI-based quadruple regimen [P-Qua-2w, RR = 1.98, 95% CI: (1.57-2.52)]; there was no significant difference between 1 and 2 weeks for each regimen, such as the vonoprazan-based triple regimen [RR = 1.11, 95% CI: (0.82-1.52)].

Conclusion

In the eradication treatment of Hp, the efficacy and safety of vonoprazan-based regimens are generally better than those of PPI-based regimens. Among them, the V-Tri-2w regimen has the highest eradication rate and may be the preferred choice for Hp eradication.

Vonoprazan-based therapies versus PPI-based therapies in patients with H. pylori infection: Systematic review and meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND

This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of vonoprazan-amoxicillin (VA), vonoprazan-amoxicillin-clarithromycin (VAC), vonoprazan-based bismuth-containing quadruple therapy (VBQT), and PPI-based triple (PAC) or quadruple therapy (PBQT) for H. pylori infection with the consideration of duration of therapy and amoxicillin dose (H: high; L: low).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched for eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs) up to December 15, 2023. The efficacy outcome was eradication rate, and safety outcomes included the rates of adverse events and treatment discontinuation.

RESULTS

Twenty-seven RCTs were included. The pooled eradication rates were 82.8% for VA, 89.1% for VAC, and 91.8% for VBQT, which increased with the higher amoxicillin frequency of administration and extended duration of therapy within each regimen. There were no significant differences in eradication rate when comparing 7-VA versus 7-VAC and 14-VA versus 14-VAC. VA was at least comparable to PAC. The eradication rate did not differ significantly between 10-H-VA or 14-H-VA versus 14-PBQT. 7-L-VAC demonstrated higher eradication rate versus 7-PAC and comparable rate to 14-PAC. 14-VBQT showed higher eradication rates versus 14-PBQT. The adverse events rate was 19.3% for VA, 30.6% for VAC, and 38.4% for VBQT. VA had similar risk of adverse events versus VAC and significantly fewer adverse events compared to PBQT. The treatment discontinuation rate did not differ significantly between treatments.

CONCLUSIONS

The eradication rate of VBQT was the highest at above 90% followed by VAC and VA. VA was as effective as VAC and superior to PPI-based therapies with favorable safety, highlighting the potential of VA therapy as a promising alternative to traditional PPI-based therapies. VPZ-based triple or quadruple therapies was more effective than PPI-based therapies. Further studies are needed to establish the optimal treatment regimen especially in the western countries.

Comparison of vonoprazan dual therapy, quadruple therapy and standard quadruple therapy for Helicobacter pylori infection in Hainan: a single-center, open-label, non-inferiority, randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE

To compare the potential efficacy and safety of dual therapy and quadruple therapy with vonoprazan (VPZ) as well as the standard quadruple therapy of proton pump inhibitor (PPI) for the eradication of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection in Hainan province.

METHODS

A single-centre, non-blinded, non-inferiority randomized controlled trial was conducted at the outpatient department of gastroenterology at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University from June 2022 to February 2023. 135 patients aged 18-75 years with Hp infection were enrolled and randomized into three different groups (group V1: VPZ 20 mg twice a day and amoxicillin 1.0 g three times a day for 14 days V2: vonoprazan 20 mg, amoxicillin capsules 1.0 g, furazolidone 0.1 g and bismuth potassiulm citrate 240 mg, twice daily for 14 days;; group V3: ilaprazole 5 mg, Amoxicillin 1.0 g, Furazolidone 100 mg, bismuth potassiulm citrate 240 mg, twice a day for 14 days). Four weeks after the end of treatment, Hp eradication was confirmed by rechecking 13C-urea breath test (UBT).

RESULTS

The eradication efficacy of V1 and V3 was non-inferior to that of V2, which is consistent with the results obtained from the Kruskal-Wallis H test. The eradication rate by intentional analysis was 84.4% (38/45, 95%CI 73.4%-95.5%, P>0.05) for all the three groups. If analyzed by per-protocol, the eradication rates were 88.4% (38/43, 95%CI 78.4%-98.4%), 92.7% (38/41, 95%CI 84.4%-101.0%),88.4% (38/43，95%CI 78.4%-98.4%) in groups V1, V2 and V3, respectively, which did not show a significant difference (P > 0.05). The incidence of adverse effects was significantly lower in VPZ dual therapy compared to the other two treatment regimens (P < 0.05). VPZ dual therapy or quadruple therapy was also relatively less costly than standard quadruple therapy.

CONCLUSION

VPZ dual therapy and quadruple therapy shows promise of not being worse than the standard quadruple therapy by a clinically relevant margin. More studies might be needed to definitively determine if the new therapy is equally effective or even superior.

Comparison of metronidazole versus clarithromycin in first-line vonoprazan-based triple therapy for Helicobacter pylori: A multicenter randomized trial in Japan

Background and Aim

To date, no randomized trials have compared the efficacy of 7-day vonoprazan, amoxicillin, and metronidazole triple therapy (VAM) versus 7-day vonoprazan, amoxicillin, and clarithromycin triple therapy (VAC) as a first-line treatment for Helicobacter pylori eradication. This study was performed to compare the efficacy of VAM and VAC as first-line treatments.

Methods

This prospective multicenter randomized trial was performed in Japan and involved 124 H. pylori-positive patients without a history of eradication. Patients without antibiotic resistance testing of H. pylori were eligible. The patients were randomized to receive either VAC (vonoprazan 20 mg + amoxicillin 750 mg + clarithromycin 200 or 400 mg twice a day) or VAM (vonoprazan 20 mg + amoxicillin 750 mg + metronidazole 250 mg twice a day) for 7 days, with stratification by age and sex. Eradication success was evaluated using the 13C-urea breath test. We evaluated safety using patient questionnaires (UMIN000025773).

Results

The intention-to-treat and per-protocol eradication rates of VAM were 91.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 82.0-96.7%) and 92.6% (95% CI, 83.7-97.6%), respectively, and those of VAC were 89.1% (95% CI, 77.8-95.9%) and 96.1% (95% CI, 86.5-99.5%), respectively. No significant difference was observed between VAM and VAC in either analysis (P = 0.76 and P = 0.70, respectively). Abdominal fullness was more frequent in patients who received VAM than VAC.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that VAM as a first-line treatment in Japan can be categorized as grade B (intention-to-treat cure rate of 90-95%) and have potential as a first-line national insurance -approved regimen.

Helicobacter pylori Diagnosis and Treatment in Africa: The First Lagos Consensus Statement of the African Helicobacter and Microbiota Study Group

BACKGROUND

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is the most prevalent type of bacterial infection. Current guidelines from different regions of the world neglect specific African conditions and requirements. The African Helicobacter and Microbiota Study Group (AHMSG), founded in 2022, aimed to create an Africa-specific consensus report reflecting Africa-specific issues.

SUMMARY

Eighteen experts from nine African countries and two European delegates supported by nine African collaborators from eight other countries prepared statements on the most important African issues in four working groups: (1) epidemiology, (2) diagnosis, (3) indications and prevention, and (4) treatment. Limited resources, restricted access to medical systems, and underdeveloped diagnostic facilities differ from those of other regions. The results of the individual working groups were presented for the final consensus voting, which included all board members.

KEY MESSAGES

There is a need for further studies on H. pylori prevalence in Africa, with diagnosis hinged on specific African situation. Treatment of H. pylori in the African setting should be based on accessibility and reimbursement, while indication and prevention should be defined in specific African countries.

Bismuth add-on improves the efficacy of 2-week tegoprazan-based triple therapy for first-line Helicobacter pylori eradication: a real-world evidence study

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of bismuth added to a 2-week triple therapy consisting of tegoprazan (TPZ), amoxicillin, and clarithromycin for first-line Helicobacter pylori eradication.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We reviewed the retrospective data of patients who received a 2-week TPZ-based triple therapy with or without 300 mg bismuth twice daily. The primary endpoint was the H. pylori eradication rate of adding bismuth to the TPZ-based triple regimen (TAC-B group), compared to no bismuth added (TAC group).

RESULTS

In total, 306 and 256 patients were included in the intention-to-treat (ITT) and per-protocol (PP) analyses, respectively. The eradication success rates were significantly higher in the TAC-B group than in the TAC group (ITT, 82.9% vs. 71.8%, p = 0.029; PP, 95.8% vs. 87.5%, p = 0.027, respectively). The adherence rate to the eradication regimen was 100% in the TAC-B group and 97.0% in the TAC group. The adverse drug event rate in the TAC-B group was comparable to that in the TAC group (29.2% vs. 27.3%, p = 0.742). No use of bismuth was significantly associated with eradication failure (p = 0.038).

CONCLUSIONS

The bismuth add-on increased the first-line H. pylori eradication rate of 2-week TPZ-based triple therapy.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

www.clinicaltrials.gov identifier is NCT05453994.

Treatment of Helicobacter pylori with potassium competitive acid blockers: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infects over half the global population, causing gastrointestinal diseases like dyspepsia, gastritis, duodenitis, peptic ulcers, G-MALT lymphoma, and gastric adenocarcinoma. Eradicating H. pylori is crucial for treating and preventing these conditions. While conventional proton pump inhibitor (PPI)-based triple therapy is effective, there's growing interest in longer acid suppression therapies. Potassium competitive acid blocker (P-CAB) triple and dual therapy are new regimens for H. pylori eradication. Initially used in Asian populations, vonoprazan (VPZ) has been recently Food and Drug Administration-approved for H. pylori eradication.

AIM

To assess the efficacy of regimens containing P-CABs in eradicating H. pylori infection.

METHODS

This study, following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis by searching MEDLINE and Scopus libraries for randomized clinical trials (RCTs) or observational studies with the following command: [("Helicobacter pylori" OR "H pylori") AND ("Treatment" OR "Therapy" OR "Eradication") AND ("Vonaprazan" OR "Potassium-Competitive Acid Blocker" OR "P-CAB" OR "PCAB" OR "Revaprazan" OR "Linaprazan" OR "Soraprazan" OR "Tegoprazan")]. Studies comparing the efficacy of P-CABs-based treatment to classical PPIs in eradicating H. pylori were included. Exclusion criteria included case reports, case series, unpublished trials, or conference abstracts. Data variables encompassed age, diagnosis method, sample sizes, study duration, intervention and control, and H. pylori eradication method were gathered by two independent reviewers. Meta-analysis was performed in R software, and forest plots were generated.

RESULTS

A total of 256 references were initially retrieved through the search command. Ultimately, fifteen studies (7 RCTs, 7 retrospective observational studies, and 1 comparative unique study) were included, comparing P-CAB triple therapy to PPI triple therapy. The intention-to-treat analysis involved 8049 patients, with 4471 in the P-CAB intervention group and 3578 in the PPI control group across these studies. The analysis revealed a significant difference in H. pylori eradication between VPZ triple therapy and PPI triple therapy in both RCTs and observational studies [risk ratio (RR) = 1.17, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.11-1.22, P < 0.0001] and (RR = 1.13, 95%CI: 1.09-1.17, P < 0.0001], respectively. However, no significant difference was found between tegoprazan (TPZ) triple therapy and PPI triple therapy in both RCTs and observational studies (RR = 1.04, 95%CI: 0.93-1.16, P = 0.5) and (RR = 1.03, 95%CI: 0.97-1.10, P = 0.3), respectively.

CONCLUSION

VPZ-based triple therapy outperformed conventional PPI-based triple therapy in eradicating H. pylori, positioning it as a highly effective first-line regimen. Additionally, TPZ-based triple therapy was non-inferior to classical PPI triple therapy.

Clarifying varied Helicobacter pylori eradication therapies: A comprehensive review

Current global variations exist in Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication regimens. Triple therapy (TT), bismuth quadruple therapy (BQT), and high-dose dual therapy (HDDT) currently represent the predominant regimens. These regimens diverge in terms of treatment duration, the utilization of susceptibility testing, acid-inhibiting drug administration, and patient education. We conducted a comprehensive systematic literature review on these H. pylori treatment regimens. Our review aims to provide standardized treatment recommendations for H. pylori, reducing the risk of amalgamating findings from diverse eradication regimens. Recent research suggests that the optimal treatment duration for TT and BQT may be 14 and 10 days, respectively. Selecting the appropriate treatment duration for HDDT should rely on regional research evidence, and 14 days may be the optimal duration. The incorporation of susceptibility testing in TT is of paramount importance. In the case of BQT, the absence of susceptibility testing may be considered as an option, contingent upon cost and availability, and should be determined based on local antibiotic resistance patterns and the efficacy of empirical regimens. The type and dosage of acid-inhibiting drug would affect the efficacy of these regimens. Acid-inhibiting drugs should be selected and applied reasonably according to the population and therapies. Adequate patient education plays a pivotal role in the eradication of H. pylori. In regions with accessible local research evidence, the 10-day empirical BQT regimen may be considered a preferred choice for H. pylori eradication.

Independent Risk Factors Predicting Eradication Failure of Hybrid Therapy for the First-Line Treatment of Helicobacter pylori Infection

Hybrid therapy is a recommended first-line anti-H. pylori treatment option in the American College of Gastroenterology guidelines, the Bangkok Consensus Report on H. pylori management, and the Taiwan H. pylori Consensus Report. However, the cure rates of eradication therapy in some countries are suboptimal, and the factors affecting the treatment efficacy of hybrid therapy remain unclear. The aim of this study is to identify the independent risk factors predicting eradication failure of hybrid therapy in the first-line treatment of H. pylori infection. A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 589 H. pylori-infected patients who received 14-day hybrid therapy between September 2008 and December 2021 in ten hospitals in Taiwan. The patients received a hybrid therapy containing a dual regimen with a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) plus amoxicillin for an initial 7 days and a quadruple regimen with a PPI plus amoxicillin, metronidazole and clarithromycin for a final 7 days. Post-treatment H. pylori status was assessed at least 4 weeks after completion of treatment. The relationships between eradication rate and 13 host and bacterial factors were investigated via univariate and multivariate analyses. In total, 589 patients infected with H. pylori infection were included in the study. The eradication rates of hybrid therapy were determined as 93.0% (95% confidence interval (CI): 90.9-95.1%), 94.4% (95% CI: 93.8-97.2%) and 95.5%% (95% CI: 93.8-97.2%) by intention-to-treat, modified intention-to-treat and per-protocol analyses, respectively. Univariate analysis showed that the eradication rate of clarithromycin-resistant strains was lower than that of clarithromcyin-susceptible strains (83.3% (45/54) vs. 97.6%% (280/287); p < 0.001). Subjects with poor drug adherence had a lower cure rate than those with good adherence (73.3% (11/15) vs. 95.5% (534/559); p = 0.005). Other factors such as smoking, alcohol drinking, coffee consumption, tea consumption and type of PPI were not significantly associated with cure rate. Multivariate analysis revealed that clarithromcyin resistance of H. pylori and poor drug adherence were independent risk factors related to eradication failure of hybrid therapy with odds ratios of 4.8 (95% CI: 1.5 to 16.1; p = 0.009) and 8.2 (95% CI: 1.5 to 43.5; p = 0.013), respectively. A 14-day hybrid therapy has a high eradication rate for H. pylori infection in Taiwan, while clarithromycin resistance of H. pylori and poor drug adherence are independent risk factors predicting eradication failure of hybrid therapy.

Real-world practice of Helicobacter pylori management: A survey among physicians in Southeast Asia

BACKGROUND

Multidrug-resistant Helicobacter pylori strains are emerging in Southeast Asia. This study evaluates the region's real-world practice in H. pylori management.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Physicians who managed H. pylori eradication in daily practice across 10 Southeast Asian countries were invited to participate in an online questionnaire, which included questions about the local availability of antimicrobial susceptibility tests (ASTs) and their preferred eradication regimens in real-world practice. An empiric regimen was considered inappropriate if it did not follow the local guidelines/consensus, particularly if it contained antibiotics with a high reported resistance rate or was recommended not to be empirically used worldwide.

RESULTS

There were 564 valid responses, including 314 (55.7%) from gastroenterologists (GIs) and 250 (44.3%) from non-GI physicians. ASTs were unavailable in 41.7%. In countries with low and intermediate clarithromycin resistance, the most common first-line regimen was PAC (proton pump inhibitor [PPI], amoxicillin, clarithromycin) (72.7% and 73.2%, respectively). Regarding second-line therapy, the most common regimen was bismuth-based quadruple therapy, PBMT (PPI, bismuth, metronidazole, tetracycline) (50.0% and 59.8%, respectively), if other regimens were used as first-line treatment. Concomitant therapy (PPI, amoxicillin, clarithromycin, metronidazole) (30.5% and 25.9%, respectively) and PAL (PPI, amoxicillin, levofloxacin) (22.7% and 27.7%, respectively) were favored if PBMT had been used as first-line treatment. In countries with high clarithromycin resistance, the most common first-line regimen was PBMT, but the utilization rate was only 57.7%. Alarmingly, PAC was prescribed in 27.8% of patients, ranking as the second most common regimen, and its prescription rate was higher in non-GI physicians than GI physicians (40.1% vs. 16.2%, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Choosing inappropriate regimens containing antibiotics with high resistance rates is not uncommon in Southeast Asia, especially among non-GI physicians. In countries with high clarithromycin resistance, the PBMT regimen is underutilized.

Keverprazan, a novel potassium-competitive acid blocker: Single ascending dose safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and food effect in healthy subjects

BACKGROUND

Keverprazan is a novel potassium-competitive acid blocker for the treatment of acid-related diseases.

AIMS

To evaluate the safety, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and food effect of single oral doses of keverprazan in healthy Chinese subjects.

METHODS

In the dose-escalated phase Ia trial, the first 8 subjects received keverprazan 5 mg, the others successively entered 10 mg, 20 mg, 40 mg, 60 mg groups and were randomized to receive keverprazan (n = 8), lansoprazole (LSZ) 30 mg (n = 2) or placebo (n = 2) in each dose group. The phase Ib study randomly enrolled subjects to the fasting-fed (n = 7) or fed-fasting (n = 7) groups for evaluating the food effect of keverprazan.

RESULTS

Twenty (35.71%) adverse events (AEs) occurred in phase Ia, including 13 (32.50%), 3 (37.50%), and 4 (50.00%) AEs in the keverprazan, placebo, and LSZ groups, respectively. Four (28.57%) AEs occurred in Phase Ib. The Tmax of keverprazan was 1.25-1.75 h. Cmax and AUC increased with the dose, and the t1/2, CL/F were 6.00-7.17 h, 88.8-198 L/h, respectively. The intragastric pH >5 holding-time ratio (HTR) increased with the dose but reached a ceiling at 20 mg. In the 30 mg LSZ and 5-60 mg keverprazan groups, the intragastric pH >5 HTRs during 24 h were 57.1%±26.4%, 7.9%±8.1%, 26.2%±22.8%, 80.2%±8.8%, 88.1%±8.6%, and 93.0%±1.7%, respectively. The geometric mean ratios (90% CI) of Cmax and AUC0-∞ of keverprazan in plasma under the fed vs. fasting state were 126.8% (109.0%-147.5%) and 134.9% (123.8%-146.9%).

CONCLUSION

Keverprazan is tolerable, and provides significant stable and lasting inhibition efficacy of intragastric acidity at 20 mg.

Combination of vonoprazan and amoxicillin as the first-line Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy: a multicenter, prospective, randomized, parallel-controlled study

The eradication rate of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) decreased gradually. This study aimed to analyze the efficacy and safety of a 14-day combination of vonoprazan and amoxicillin as the first-line eradication therapy for H. pylori infection and compared them with those of the bismuth quadruple therapy. A prospective randomized clinical trial (RCT) was designed, involving patients with H. pylori infection in 6 institutions who did not receive any treatment yet. They were randomly assigned into the VA-dual group (vonoprazan 20 mg b.i.d + amoxicillin 750 mg q.i.d) or EACP-quadruple group (esomeprazole 20 mg + amoxicillin 1000 mg + clarithromycin 500 mg + colloidal bismuth subcitrate 220 mg b.i.d) for 14 days in a ratio of 1:1. At least 28 days later, the eradication rate was detected by the 13C-urea breath test (UBT). A total of 562 patients from February 2022 to September 2022 were enrolled and 316 were random. In the ITT analysis, the eradication rates of H. pylori in the VA-dual group and EACP-quadruple group were 89.9% and 81.0%, respectively, p = 0.037. In the PP analysis were 97.9% and 90.8%, p = 0.009. The different eradication rate was 8.9% (95% CI 1.2-16.5%) and 7.2% (95% CI 1.8-12.4%) in ITT and PP analyses, both lower limit of the 95%CI was still higher than the prespecified margin. In addition, the incidence of adverse events in the VA-dual group was significantly lower than that in the EACP-quadruple group (19.0% vs. 43.0%, P < 0.001). The efficacy and safety of a 14-day combination therapy of vonoprazan and amoxicillin in eradicating H. pylori are superior to bismuth quadruple therapy, and this combination significantly reduces the use of antibiotics.

Efficacy and Safety of Potassium-Competitive Acid Blockers Versus Proton Pump Inhibitors as Helicobacter pylori Eradication Therapy: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials

Helicobacter pylori is a gram-negative bacterium that chronically infects the gastric epithelium. Potassium-competitive acid blockers (P-CABs) are a promising alternative, being more potent than standard proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). The meta-analysis followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Inclusion criteria were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing P-CAB and PPI-based therapy, confirmed H. pylori infection, and measured eradication rates after at least four weeks. Subgroup analyses were conducted based on therapy type and trial location. Quality assessment used the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool, RoB 2.0, and statistical analysis was performed using ReviewManager (RevMan) 5.4 (2020; The Cochrane Collaboration, London, United Kingdom). A p-value of <0.05 is considered statistically significant. In the intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis, P-CABs demonstrated superior overall efficacy, consistently observed in the first-line treatment subgroup. However, no significant difference was found in the subgroup receiving salvage therapy. Another ITT subgroup analyzed the impact of geographical location, favoring P-CABs in the overall study population and the Japanese subgroup. However, no statistically significant differences were found in the subgroups of other countries. In the PPA, P-CABs showed superior efficacy overall, consistently seen in the first-line treatment subgroup. However, no significant difference was found in the subgroup receiving salvage eradication therapy. Another PPA subgroup analysis considered the geographical impact on eradication rates, revealing P-CABs as superior to PPIs in the overall study population and the Japanese subgroup, but not in other countries. No significant adverse event outcomes were observed. P-CAB-based triple therapy is more effective than PPI-based triple therapy as the primary treatment for H. pylori eradication, particularly in Japanese patients. Nevertheless, regarding salvage therapy, both treatments show comparable efficacy. Additionally, the tolerability of P-CAB-based and PPI-based triple therapy is similar, with a similar occurrence of adverse events.

Keverprazan, a novel potassium-competitive acid blocker: Multiple oral doses safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics in healthy subjects

Keverprazan, a novel potassium-competitive acid blocker, was approved for treating acid-related diseases. This study aimed to analyze the safety, pharmacokinetics (PKs) and pharmacodynamics (PDs) of multiple doses of keverprazan. This was a randomized, positive-/placebo-controlled, phase Ic trial. Twenty-six healthy adults were randomized to receive 20 mg/day keverprazan (n = 8), 40 mg/day keverprazan (n = 8), placebo (n = 6), or 20 mg/day vonoprazan (n = 4) for 7 days. Safety, PK and PD assessments were conducted. In the keverprazan, vonoprazan, and placebo groups, adverse events (AEs) were reported in nine (56.25%), two (50.00%), and three (50.00%) subjects, respectively. AEs were mild except a moderate abdominal pain leading to withdraw. No serious AEs occurred. The plasma concentration-time profiles of keverprazan showed rapid absorption (median time to maximum plasma concentration of 1.25-3.0 h). The terminal half-life was 6.23 and 7.01 h for keverprazan 20 and 40 mg groups on day 7. The maximum plasma concentration was 43.1 and 93.2 ng/mL, respectively. There was no apparent accumulation of keverprazan and the major metabolite after 7-day administration. The intragastric pH greater than 5 holding time ratios (HTRs) over 24 h postdose increased from 79.1%, 84.4%, and 84.5% on day 1 to 99.0%, 97.4%, and 100.0% on day 7 in the vonoprazan 20 mg and keverprazan 20 and 40 mg groups, respectively. The intragastric pH greater than 5 HTR of keverprazan reached a plateau at 20 mg. Keverprazan is well-tolerable. A steady-state in exposure was generally reached after 7 days of treatment. A dose of 20 mg/day keverprazan can elicit a significant, stable, and long-lasting gastric acid inhibition effect.

Vonoprazan With Amoxicillin or Amoxicillin and Clarithromycin for the Treatment of Helicobacter pylori Infection

OBJECTIVES

To describe the pharmacology, efficacy, safety, and potential role of vonoprazan with amoxicillin or amoxicillin and clarithromycin for the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection in adults.

DATA SOURCES

PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched using the terms: (vonoprazan OR voquezna) AND ("H. pylori" OR "Helicobacter pylori") AND amoxicillin with no date limitations up to November 3, 2022.

STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION

Studies assessing the efficacy and safety of vonoprazan with amoxicillin and/or clarithromycin were included and divided into 3 groups based on different comparisons between treatment regimens used in each group.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Ten clinical trials and 17 observational studies were included. Vonoprazan-based therapy demonstrated greater acid inhibition and similar or higher efficacy than proton-pump inhibitor (PPI)-based therapy in treatment-naïve patients and with clarithromycin-resistant infections.

RELEVANCE TO PATIENT CARE AND CLINICAL PRACTICE

Proton-pump inhibitor-based therapies have not reached the desired successful eradication rate of 90% for H. pylori infection. Vonoprazan-based therapies being at least as effective as PPI-based therapies offer an alternative for patients with H. pylori infection.

CONCLUSION

Vonoprazan-based therapies were effective and well tolerated for the treatment of H. pylori infection in adults. These regimens provide an important alternative with prolonged acid inhibition, lower potential for CYP2C19 polymorphism, and at least comparable efficacy and safety versus PPI-based therapies in patients with H. pylori infections. Thus, vonoprazan-based therapy should be considered for certain patients, for example, those with failure to PPI-based treatments.

Research trends on vonoprazan-based therapy for Helicobacter pylori eradication: A bibliometric analysis from 2015 to 2023

BACKGROUND

Vonoprazan is an emerging option for the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection. We aimed to assess the research trends and hotspots of vonoprazan-based therapy for H. pylori eradication through bibliometric analysis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Vonoprazan-based studies for eradicating H. pylori published from 2015 to 2023 were extracted from the Web of Science using a combination of the search terms "H. pylori" and "vonoprazan." Each study was weighted according to the number of included patients.

RESULTS

A total of 65 studies were included. Japan was the most productive and cooperative country, accounting for 69.2% of publications. Vonoprazan in combination with amoxicillin and clarithromycin (41.8%) was most used for eradicating H. pylori, followed by vonoprazan in combination with amoxicillin (20.4%) and vonoprazan in combination with amoxicillin and metronidazole (19.4%). The eradication rates for first-line vonoprazan-based therapies by intention to treat were: dual therapy (82.9%, 95% CI: 77.7%-88.0%), triple (83.3%, 95% CI: 79.7%-86.8%) and quadruple therapy (91.5%, 95% CI: 85.5%-97.4%), and per protocol: dual therapy (86.1%, 95% CI: 81.5%-90.7%), triple (89.3%, 95% CI: 87.9%-90.6%) and quadruple therapy (94.0%, 95% CI: 88.6%-99.4%). Vonoprazan was superior to proton pump inhibitors in triple therapy regarding empirical therapy (RR = 1.18, 95% CI, 1.14-1.22, p < 0.01) and clarithromycin-resistant group (RR = 1.71, 95% CI, 1.33-2.20, p < 0.01), but there is no significant difference between triple therapy and dual therapy (RR = 1.02, 95% CI, 0.98-1.07, p = 0.33).

CONCLUSIONS

Vonoprazan has been widely used for H. pylori eradication. Further studies are needed to optimize the best duration and dosage of vonoprazan-based regimens in different regions.

Optimizing Helicobacter pylori Treatment: An Updated Review of Empirical and Susceptibility Test-Based Treatments

As the rate of discovery of drug-resistant Helicobacter pylori cases increases worldwide, the relevant societies have updated their guidelines for primary eradication regimens. A promising strategy against drug-resistant H. pylori is tailored therapy based on the results of an antibiotic susceptibility test; however, it is difficult to apply this strategy to all cases. Although culture-based antibiotic susceptibility tests can assess resistance to any antimicrobial agent, their greatest disadvantage is the time required to draw a conclusion. In contrast, molecular-based methods, such as polymerase chain reaction, can rapidly determine the presence of resistance, although a single test can only test for one type of antimicrobial agent. Additionally, the limited availability of facilities for molecular-based methods has hindered their widespread use. Therefore, low-cost, minimally invasive, simple, and effective primary regimens are needed. Several studies have compared the efficacy of the latest primary eradication regimens against that of tailored therapies, and their results have shaped guidelines. This article reviews the latest research on empirical and tailored treatments for H. pylori infections. Evidence for the superiority of tailored therapy over empirical therapy is still limited and varies by region and treatment regimen. A network meta-analysis comparing different empirical treatment regimens showed that vonoprazan triple therapy provides a superior eradication effect. Recently, favorable results towards vonoprazan dual therapy have been reported, as it reached eradication levels similar to those of vonoprazan triple therapy. Both vonoprazan dual therapy and tailored therapy based on antibiotic susceptibility tests could contribute to future treatment strategies.

Antibiotic Resistance, Susceptibility Testing and Stewardship in Helicobacter pylori Infection

Despite the declining trend of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) prevalence around the globe, ongoing efforts are still needed to optimize current and future regimens in view of the increasing antibiotic resistance. The resistance of H. pylori to different antibiotics is caused by different molecular mechanisms, and advancements in sequencing technology have come a far way in broadening our understanding and in facilitating the testing of antibiotic susceptibility to H. pylori. In this literature review, we give an overview of the molecular mechanisms behind resistance, as well as discuss and compare different antibiotic susceptibility tests based on the latest research. We also discuss the principles of antibiotic stewardship and compare the performance of empirical therapies based on up-to-date resistance patterns and susceptibility-guided therapies in providing effective H. pylori treatment. Studies and clinical guidelines should ensure that the treatment being tested or recommended can reliably achieve a pre-agreed acceptable level of eradication rate and take into account the variations in antibiotic resistance across populations. Local, regional and international organizations must work together to establish routine antibiotic susceptibility surveillance programs and enforce antibiotic stewardship in the treatment of H. pylori, so that it can be managed in a sustainable and efficient manner.

Vonoprazan: A New Potassium-Competitive Acid Blocker

Objective: To review the safety, efficacy, and tolerability of vonoprazan for the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection in adults. Data Sources: A literature search was performed through PubMed using the following key terms: vonoprazan, Voquezna, TAK-438, potassium-competitive acid blocker, H pylori, and gastrointestinal. Study Selection and Data Extraction: Selected articles included those which described clinical studies of the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, efficacy, safety, or tolerability of vonoprazan. Data Synthesis: Vonoprazan works by competing with potassium on the proton pump to inhibit gastric acid secretion. Phase 3 clinical trials have shown that vonoprazan is noninferior to proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) as a component of H pylori eradication regimens. Vonoprazan has also shown promise in duodenal ulcer-healing rates and in reducing symptoms of heartburn. Common adverse effects associated with vonoprazan include nasopharyngitis, diarrhea, constipation, flatulence, dyspepsia, headache, and abdominal pain. Conclusion: Clinical practice guidelines recommend PPIs as the antisecretory agent of choice in H pylori eradication regimens with histamine-2 receptor antagonists (H2RAs) as potential alternatives. However, the use of either class of medications may be limited by adverse effects, drug interactions, and tolerability. Potassium-competitive acid blockers (P-CABs), like vonoprazan, may be safe and effective alternative antisecretory agents for H pylori eradication regimens, as well as other gastrointestinal disorders.

Real-world outcomes associated with vonoprazan-based versus proton pump inhibitor-based therapy for Helicobacter pylori infection in Japan

Background

Japanese guidelines recommend triple therapy with vonoprazan or a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) in combination with antibiotics to treat Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. While studies have shown improved eradication rates and reduced costs with vonoprazan versus PPIs, there is little data describing healthcare resource use (HCRU) and treatment patterns.

Objectives

To compare patients treated with a vonoprazan-based or PPI-based regimen for H. pylori infection in Japan in terms of their characteristics, HCRU, healthcare costs, clinical outcomes, and treatment patterns.

Design

Retrospective matched cohort.

Methods

We used data from the Japan Medical Data Center claims database (July 2014-January 2020) to identify adult patients with H. pylori infection and a first observed use of vonoprazan or a PPI in 2015 or later (index date). Patients prescribed a vonoprazan-based or a PPI-based regimen were matched 1:1 using propensity score matching. HCRU, healthcare costs, diagnostic tests, a proxy for H. pylori eradication (i.e. no triple therapy with amoxicillin in combination with metronidazole or clarithromycin >30 days after the index date), and second-line treatment were described during the 12-month follow-up period.

Results

Among 25,389 matched pairs, vonoprazan-treated patients had fewer all-cause and H. pylori-related inpatient stays and outpatient visits than PPI-treated patients, resulting in lower all-cause healthcare costs [185,378 Japanese yen (JPY) versus 230,876 JPY, p < 0.001]. Over 80% of patients received a post-treatment test for H. pylori. Fewer vonoprazan-treated than PPI-treated patients subsequently received an additional triple regimen for H. pylori infection (7.1% versus 20.0%, p < 0.001) or a prescription for vonoprazan or a PPI as monotherapy (12.4% versus 26.4%, p < 0.001) between 31 days and 12 months after the index date.

Conclusion

Patients with H. pylori infection who were treated with vonoprazan-based therapy had lower rates of subsequent H. pylori treatment, lower overall and H. pylori-related HCRU, and lower healthcare costs than patients treated with PPI-based therapy.

Combination of vonoprazan and amoxicillin as the first-line Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy: a multicenter, prospective, randomized, parallel-controlled study.. [DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2547217/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0]

Background The eradication rate of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) decreased gradually. This study aimed to analyze the efficacy and safety of a 14-day combination of vonoprazan and amoxicillin as the first-line eradication therapy for H. pylori infection, and compared them with those of the bismuth quadruple therapy. Methods A prospective randomized clinical trial (RCT) was designed, involving patients with H. pylori infection in 6 institutions who did not receive any treatment yet. They were randomly assigned into VA-dual group (vonprazan 20mg b.i.d + amoxicillin 750mg q.i.d) or EACP-quadruple group (esomeprazole 20mg + amoxicillin 1000mg + clarithromycin 500mg + colloidal bismuth subcitrate 220mg b.i.d) for 14 days in ratio of 1:1. At least 28 days later, the eradication rate were detected by the 13C-urea breath test (UBT). Results A total of 562 patients from February 2022 to September 2022 were enrolled and 316 were randomly. In the ITT analysis, the eradication rates of H. pylori in VA-dual group and EACP-quadruple group were 89.9% and 81.0% respectively, p = 0.037. In the PP analysis were 97.9% and 90.8%, p = 0.009. The different eradication rate was 8.9% (95%CI, 1.2–16.5%) and 7.2% (95%CI, 1.8–12.4%) in ITT and PP analysis, both lower limit of the 95%CI was still higher than the prespecified margin. In addition, the incidence of adverse events in VA-dual group was significantly lower than that in EACP-quadruple group (19.0% vs. 43.0%, P < 0.001). Conclusion The efficacy and safety of a 14-day combination therapy of vonoprazan and amoxicillin in eradicating H. pylori are superior to bismuth quadruple therapy, and this combination significantly reduces the use of antibiotics.

Effectiveness and safety of vonoprazan-based regimens compared with those of proton pump inhibitor (PPI)-based regimens as first-line agents for Helicobacter pylori: a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials

PURPOSE

Vonoprazan (VPZ), a reversible H⁺-K⁺ ATPase inhibitor, has a relatively fast and sustained acid-suppression action that is unaffected by diet or gene polymorphisms. Several randomized controlled trials have evaluated the difference in the eradication rate of Helicobacter pylori (HP) between VPZ-based and proton pump inhibitor (PPI)-based regimens. The present review aimed to (1) evaluate the efficacy, safety, and compliance of VPZ-based regimens compared with those of PPI-based regimens as first-line treatments for HP infection and (2) perform a subgroup analysis to examine the influence of differences in clarithromycin-resistance status, treatment duration, treatment regimens, and research region on treatment outcomes.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic literature search on PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and ChiCTR Register. Systematic searches, study selection, data extraction, risk of bias assessment, and statistical analysis were performed according to pre-registered protocol on the PROSPERO (CRD42022336608).

RESULTS

Eight studies and 2956 HP-infected patients were enrolled. Only first-line therapy and RCT study were considered. VPZ-based group had a superior eradication efficacy compared to PPI-based group by intention-to-treat (ITT) (pooled risk ratio (RR): 1.14, 95% CI: 1.08-1.21, p < 0.00001) and per-protocol analysis (pooled RR: 1.13, 95% CI: 1.07-1.20, p < 0.00001). This finding was further validated by subgroup analysis depending on treatment regimens, duration, region, and clarithromycin resistance. In addition, there was no significant difference in adverse events (p = 0.33) and compliances (p = 0.30) between the regimens.

CONCLUSION

The VPZ-based regimens showed a superior eradication efficacy compared to the already frequently used PPI-based regimens. Furthermore, VPZ-based therapy showed comparable tolerability and incidence of adverse events.

Incidence and type of adverse events in patients taking vonoprazan: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Vonoprazan, a novel acid-suppressive drug, is non-inferior to proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) for the management of gastric acid-related diseases. However, the safety of vonoprazan has not been systematically evaluated yet.

Objectives

To elucidate the incidence and type of adverse events (AEs) in patients taking vonoprazan.

Design

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Data sources and methods

PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases were searched for all studies reporting the safety of vonoprazan. The incidences of any AEs, drug-related AEs, serious AEs, AEs leading to drug discontinuation, and common AEs were pooled. Odds ratios (ORs) were calculated to compare the incidence of AEs between patients taking vonoprazan and PPIs.

Results

Seventy-seven studies were included. The pooled incidences of any AEs, drug-related AEs, serious AEs, and AEs leading to drug discontinuation were 20, 7, 1, and 1%, respectively. The incidences of any AEs (OR = 0.96, p = 0.66), drug-related AEs (OR = 1.10, p = 0.44), serious AEs (OR = 1.14, p = 0.36), and AEs leading to drug discontinuation (OR = 1.09, p = 0.55) were not significantly different between patients taking vonoprazan and PPIs. In subgroup analyses, patients with peptic ulcer disease (PUD) had higher incidences of any AEs, serious AEs, and AEs leading to drug discontinuation than those with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection, and artificial ulcer after gastric endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), but patients with H. pylori infection had a higher incidence of drug-related AEs than those with PUD, GERD, and artificial ulcer after gastric ESD. The incidence of AEs was higher in patients taking long-term use of vonoprazan than those taking short-term use of vonoprazan.

Conclusion

Vonoprazan is well tolerated and shows similar safety compared to PPIs. The safety of vonoprazan may be primarily influenced by its indications and duration.

Registration

PROSPERO CRD42022314982.

Treatment strategies and pharmacist-led medication management for Helicobacter pylori infection

Half of the world's population is Helicobacter pylori carrier. Updated guidelines and consensus have been issued across regions with the main aim of reducing social transmission and increasing H. pylori eradication rate. Although alternative therapies including traditional Chinese medicine and probiotics have also been used to improve H. pylori eradication rate in clinical practice, current mainstream treatment is still dependent on triple and quadruple therapies that includes antibacterial agents (e.g., amoxicillin and furazolidone) and proton pump inhibitor. Researches also assessed the eradication rate of optimized high-dose dual therapy in treating H. pylori infection. With the increase of antibiotic resistance rate, the treatment strategies for H. pylori infection are constantly adjusted and improved. Besides, low medication compliance is another key influencing factor for H. pylori treatment failure. Emerging studies indicate that pharmacists' intervention and new pharmaceutical care methods can enhance patient medication compliance, reduce adverse drug reactions, and improve H. pylori eradication rate. The purpose of this review is to summarize the advances in treating H. pylori infection and highlight the necessity of developing novel strategies to cope with the increasing challenges and to achieve personalized medication. Also, this review attaches great importance to pharmacists in optimizing H. pylori treatment outcomes as a routine part of therapy.

A comparison of efficacy and safety of potassium-competitive acid blocker and proton pump inhibitor in gastric acid-related diseases: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Potassium-competitive acid blocker (PCAB) is a recent alternative to proton pump inhibitor (PPI) for potent acid suppression. The current systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of PCAB versus PPI in treating gastric acid-related diseases.

METHODS

We searched up to June 5, 2022, for randomized controlled trials of gastric acid-related diseases that included erosive esophagitis, symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), peptic ulcers, and Helicobacter pylori infection. The pooled risk ratio (RR) was evaluated for the efficacy outcome and treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) as the safety outcome. Sensitivity analyses were performed to test the robustness of the study findings.

RESULTS

Of the 710 screened studies, 19 studies including 7023 participants were analyzed. The RRs for the healing of erosive esophagitis with Vonoprazan versus PPI were 1.09 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03-1.14), 1.03 (95% CI 1.00-1.07), and 1.02 (95% CI 1.00-1.05) in Weeks 2, 4, and 8, respectively. There were no differences in the improvement of GERD symptoms and healing of gastric and duodenal ulcers between PCAB and PPI. The pooled eradication rates of H. pylori were significantly higher in Vonoprazan versus PPI first-line treatment (RR 1.13; 95% CI 1.04-1.22). The overall RR of TEAEs with Vonoprazan versus PPI was 1.08 (95% CI 0.89-1.31). Overall, the risk of bias was low to some concerns. Furthermore, sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of the study's conclusion.

CONCLUSION

Vonoprazan is superior to PPI in first-line H. pylori eradication and erosive esophagitis but non-inferior in other gastric acid-related diseases. Likewise, short-term safety is comparable in both treatment groups.

Update on the first-line treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection in areas with high and low clarithromycin resistances

Current international consensuses on Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy recommend that only regimens that reliably produce eradication rates of ⩾90% should be used for empirical treatment. The Real-world Practice & Expectation of Asia-Pacific Physicians and Patients in Helicobacter Pylori Eradication Survey also showed that the accepted minimal eradication rate in H. pylori-infected patients was 91%. According to efficacy prediction model, the per-protocol eradication rates of 7-day and 14-day standard triple therapies fall below 90% when clarithromycin resistance rate ⩾5%. Several strategies including bismuth-containing, non-bismuth-containing quadruple therapies (including sequential, concomitant, hybrid and reverse hybrid therapies), high-dose dual therapy and vonoprazan-based triple therapy have been proposed to increase the eradication rate of H. pylori infection. According to efficacy prediction model, the eradication rate of 14-day concomitant therapy, 14-day hybrid therapy and 7-day vonoprazan-based triple therapy is less than 90% if the frequency of clarithromycin-resistant strains is higher than 90%, 58% and 23%, respectively. To meet the recommendation of the consensus report and patients' expectation, local surveillance networks for resistance of H. pylori to clarithromycin are required to select appropriate eradication regimens in each geographic region. In areas with low (<5%) clarithromycin resistance (e.g. Sweden, Philippine, Myanmar and Bhutan), 7-day and 14-day standard triple therapies can be adopted for the first-line treatment of H. pylori infection with eradication rates of ⩾90%. In areas with high (⩾5%) clarithromycin resistance (most other countries worldwide) or unknown clarithromycin resistance, 14-day hybrid, 14-day reverse hybrid, 14-day concomitant and 10- to 14-day bismuth quadruple therapy can be used to treat H. pylori infection.

7-day versus 14-day tegoprazan-based triple therapy to treat Helicobacter pylori infection: Real-world evidence

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Potassium-competitive acid blockers (P-CABs) can be used to eradicate Helicobacter pylori infection. We aimed to evaluate the impact of treatment duration (7 vs 14 days) on successful H. pylori eradication with P-CAB-based triple therapy in Korea, where clarithromycin resistance rate is high.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the data of patients who received first-line treatment for H. pylori infection with tegoprazan-based triple therapy (50 mg tegoprazan + 1000 mg amoxicillin + 500 mg clarithromycin twice daily for 1 or 2 weeks). The primary endpoint was the eradication rate in intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis.

RESULTS

Of the 948 patients included in the study, 435 and 513 received 7-day and 14-day tegoprazan-based triple therapy, respectively. The eradication rate was higher in the 14-day therapy group than in the 7-day therapy group (ITT, 63.9%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 59.3-68.3%] vs 78.6% [95% CI, 74.9-81.9%], respectively, P < 0.001; per-protocol, 70.5% [95% CI, 65.8-74.8%] vs 85.1% [81.7-88.1%], respectively, P < 0.001). Overall adverse event rates did not differ between the two groups. Although six patients in the 14-day treatment group discontinued the prescribed medications due to adverse events, four of them (67%) discontinued the medication within 4 days.

CONCLUSIONS

The 14-day tegoprazan-based triple therapy showed a superior eradication rate and acceptable adverse events compared with the 7-day tegoprazan-based triple therapy. A 14-day treatment regimen may be required when H. pylori infection is treated with tegoprazan-based triple therapy in regions with high clarithromycin resistance.

Optimization of vonoprazan-amoxicillin dual therapy for eradicating Helicobacter pyloriinfection in China: A prospective, randomized clinical pilot study

BACKGROUND

Vonoprazan-amoxicillin (VA) dual therapy has been shown to achieve acceptable cure rates for treatment of Helicobacter pylori(H. pylori) in Japan. Its effectiveness in other regions is unknown. We aimed to explore the efficacy of VA dual therapy as first-line treatment for H. pyloriinfection in China.

METHODS

This was a single center, prospective, randomized clinical pilot study conducted in China. Treatment naive H. pyloriinfected patients were randomized to receive either low- or high-dose amoxicillin-vonoprazan consisting of amoxicillin 1 g either b.i.d. or t.i.d plus VPZ 20 mg b.i.d for 7 or 10 days. ¹³ C-urea breath tests were used to access the cure rate at least 4 weeks after treatment.

RESULTS

Three hundred and twenty-three patients were assessed, and 119 subjects were randomized. The eradication rates of b.i.d. amoxicillin for 7 and 10 days, t.i.d. amoxicillin for 7 and 10 days were 66.7% (16/24), 89.2% (33/37), 81.0% (17/21), and 81.1% (30/37) (p = .191) by intention-to-treat analysis, respectively, and 72.7% (16/22), 89.2% (33/37), 81.0% (17/21), and 81.1% (30/37) (p = .454) by per-protocol analysis, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Neither 7- or 10-day VA dual therapy with b.i.d. or t.i.d. amoxicillin provides satisfied efficacy as the first-line treatment for H. pyloriinfection in China. Further optimization is needed.

Clinical trial: seven-day vonoprazan- versus 14-day proton pump inhibitor-based triple therapy for first-line Helicobacter pylori eradication

BACKGROUND

One-week triple therapy with vonoprazan is endorsed by Japanese guidelines as an alternative to proton pump inhibitor (PPI)-based triple therapy for first-line Helicobacter pylori eradication. This contrasts with Western guidelines recommending 2-week PPI-based triple therapy.

AIM

To verify the non-inferiority of 1-week vonoprazan-based triple therapy versus 2-week PPI-based triple therapy as first-line H. pylori eradication in a multiracial Asian cohort.

METHODS

Randomised controlled trial of treatment-naïve patients with H. pylori infection assigned 1:1 to either 7 days amoxicillin 1 g + clarithromycin 500 mg + vonoprazan 20 mg twice per day or 14 days amoxicillin 1 g + clarithromycin 500 mg + omeprazole OR esomeprazole OR rabeprazole 20 mg twice/day. Subjects were randomly assigned to each PPI 1:1:1 Demographics, H. pylori resistance, CYP 2C19 genotype, eradication success and safety profiles were compared between groups.

RESULTS

Between June 2019 and June 2021, 252 of 1097 subjects screened were randomised. 244 (age [SD] 51.7 [14.6]) received vonoprazan- (n = 119) or PPI-based (n = 125) triple therapy. Eradication rates by intention-to-treat analysis were 87.4% (vonoprazan-based triple therapy) versus 88.0% (PPI-based triple therapy. By per protocol analysis: 96.3% (vonoprazan-based triple therapy) versus 94.0% (PPI-based triple therapy). Clarithromycin resistance predicted treatment failure on multivariate analysis: RR 11.4; 95% CI [1.4-96.3], p = 0.025. No significant differences in CYP 2C19 genotypes or adverse events occurred between groups.

CONCLUSION

One-week vonoprazan-based triple therapy achieved comparable efficacy to 2-week PPI-based triple therapy and was well tolerated.

Scope and Limitations of Current Antibiotic Therapies against Helicobacter pylori: Reviewing Amoxicillin Gastroretentive Formulations

Even though general improvement of quality of life has happened around the globe, statistics show that gastric cancer is still a very serious medical concern in some regions of the world. A big portion of malignant neoplasms that develop inside the stomach are linked to an infection of Helicobacter pylori; in fact, this pathogen has already been categorized as a group 1 carcinogen by the World Health Organization (WHO). Still, the efficacy of current anti-H. pylori therapeutic approaches is insufficient and follows a worrying decreasing trend, mainly due to an exponential increase in resistance to key antibiotics. This work analyzes the clinical and biological characteristics of this pathogen, especially its link to gastric cancer, and provides a comprehensive review of current formulation trends for H. pylori eradication. Research effort has focused both on the discovery of new combinations of chemicals that function as optimized antibiotic regimens, and on the preparation of gastroretentive drug delivery systems (GRDDSs) to improve overall pharmacokinetics. Regarding the last topic, this review aims to summarize the latest trend in amoxicillin-loaded GRDDS, since this is the antibiotic that has shown the least bacterial resistance worldwide. It is expected that the current work could provide some insight into the importance of innovative options to combat this microorganism. Therefore, this review can inspire new research strategies in the development of efficient formulations for the treatment of this infection and the consequent prevention of gastric cancer.

Efficacy and safety of potassium-competitive acid blockers versus proton pump inhibitors as Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy: a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Potassium-Competitive Acid Blockers (P-CABs) have been used in Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication therapies in recent years. However, the efficacy and safety of P-CABs compared to Proton-Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) in this setting remain controversial.

METHODS

The efficacy and safety of P-CABs and PPIs for H. pylori eradication were compared in a meta-analysis based on a systematic literature search of major electronic databases for relevant Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs).

RESULTS

Seven studies and 1,168 patients were included. The pooled eradication rate determined by Intention-To-Treat (ITT) analysis was 90.2% for P-CAB-based and 75.5% for PPI-based triple therapy (pooled RR [95% CI] = 1.17 [1.08-1.28], p < 0.001). The Per-Protocol (PP) analysis also demonstrated significant superiority of P-CABs (pooled eradication rate = 92.4% vs. 77.8%; pooled RR [95% CI] = 1.14 [1.03-1.26], p < 0.01). In a subgroup evaluation, P-CABs were significantly better than PPIs as a first-line eradication therapy, in both the ITT analysis (pooled eradication rate = 91.8% vs. 76.4%; pooled RR [95% CI] = 1.18 [1.10-1.28], p < 0.0001) and the PP analysis (pooled eradication rate = 93.0% vs. 78.6%; pooled RR [95% CI] = 1.13 [1.02-1.26], p < 0.05). However, P-CABs were not superior to PPIs when administered as salvage therapy, as determined in the ITT (75.0% vs. 66.0%, pooled RR [95% CI] = 1.11 [0.69-1.78], p = 0.66) and PP (85.7% vs. 70.0%, pooled RR [95% CI] = 1.20 [0.82-1.75], p = 0.34) analyses. In a subgroup analysis limited to Japanese patients, both the ITT analysis (pooled eradication rate = 89.6% vs. 73.9%; RR [95% CI] = 1.21 [1.14-1.29], p < 0.01) and the PP analysis (pooled eradication rate = 92.0% vs. 75.7%; RR [95% CI] = 1.18 [1.06-1.32], p < 0.01) showed that P-CABs were significantly superior compared to PPIs as triple eradication therapy. However, in the subgroup analysis of patients from other countries, there was no significant difference in either the ITT analysis (pooled eradication rate = 93.8% vs. 85.2%; RR [95% CI] = 1.10 [0.99-1.22], p = 0.07) or PP analysis (pooled eradication rate = 95.0% vs. 90.8%; RR [95% CI] = 1.05 [0.98-1.14], p = 0.17). The incidence of adverse events associated with the two regimens did not significantly differ (P-CABs vs. PPIs: 33.6% vs. 40.0%; RR [95% CI] = 0.84 [0.71‒1.00], p = 0.05). The incidence of serious adverse events and dropout rate due to adverse events also did not differ (p = 0.44 and p = 0.67, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

The efficacy of P-CAB-based triple therapy is superior to that of PPI-based triple therapy as a first-line approach to H. pylori eradication, particularly in Japanese patients. As salvage therapy, the efficacy of the two treatments did not significantly differ. The tolerability of P-CAB-based and PPI-based triple therapy was comparable, as was the incidence of adverse events.