Comparison of Pharmacodynamics between Tegoprazan and Dexlansoprazole Regarding Nocturnal Acid Breakthrough: A Randomized Crossover Study

Background/Aims

Tegoprazan, a novel potassium-competitive acid blocker, is expected to overcome the limitations of proton pump inhibitors and effectively control nocturnal acid breakthrough. To evaluate the pharmacodynamics of tegoprazan versus dexlansoprazole regarding nocturnal acid breakthrough in healthy subjects.

Methods

In a randomized, open-label, single-dose, balanced incomplete block crossover study, 24 healthy male volunteers were enrolled and randomized to receive oral tegoprazan (50, 100, or 200 mg) or dexlansoprazole (60 mg) during each of two administration periods, separated by a 7- to 10-day washout period. Blood samples were collected for pharmacokinetic parameter analysis; gastric monitoring was performed for pharmacodynamic parameter evaluation.

Results

All 24 subjects completed the study. Average maximum plasma concentration, area under the plasma concentration-time curve, and mean time with gastric pH >4 and pH >6 for tegoprazan demonstrated dose-dependent incremental increases. All the tegoprazan groups reached mean pH ≥4 within 2 hours, whereas the dexlansoprazole group required 7 hours after drug administration. Based on pharmacodynamic parameters up to 12 hours after evening dosing, 50, 100, and 200 mg of tegoprazan presented a stronger acid-suppressive effect than 60 mg of dexlansoprazole. Moreover, the dexlansoprazole group presented a comparable acid-suppressive effect with the tegoprazan groups 12 hours after dosing.

Conclusions

All the tegoprazan groups demonstrated a significantly faster onset of gastric pH increase and longer holding times above pH >4 and pH >6 up to 12 hours after evening dosing than the dexlansoprazole group.

Deciphering the nature of binding of dexlansoprazole with DNA: Biophysical and docking approaches

Drugs, in general, exhibit their pharmacological activity in binding with intracellular targets. Numerous anticancer and antibacterial drugs target DNA as one of their primary intracellular targets. Dexlansoprazole (DLP) is a heterocyclic compound containing benzimidazole moiety and a proton pump inhibitor used to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease. The interaction of dexlansoprazole with calf thymus DNA (ct-DNA) has been studied using biophysical methods. The UV-Visible studies revealed a binding constant of 2.15 ± 0.3 × 104 M^-1 which is close to the value of 2.44 ± 0.3 × 10⁴ M^-1 obtained from the fluorescence studies. Competitive displacement studies using the fluorescence spectroscopic method with ethidium bromide and Hoechst as DNA markers suggested the groove binding mode of DLP in ct-DNA. The groove binding mode of DLP in ct-DNA was complemented by the results of viscosity and DNA melting studies. Further studies on the effect of ionic strength and potassium iodide on DLP binding with ct-DNA supported the observed binding mode. Circular dichroism studies reflected no significant conformational variation in ct-DNA after the interaction. The binding mode obtained from the experimental studies was corroborated by the molecular docking studies that showed the position of DLP in the minor groove of ct-DNA along with the receptor interface restudies involved in the interaction.

Phase 4 Study in Patients From Asia With Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Treated With Dexlansoprazole

Background/Aims

Since the use of dexlansoprazole in Asian subjects with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) has not been adequately characterized, this study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of dexlansoprazole modified-release in Asian subjects with non-erosive reflux disease (NERD) and erosive esophagitis (EE).

Methods

In this phase 4, open-label, non-randomized, uncontrolled, multicenter, multi-country study sponsored by Takeda, subjects aged ≥ 20 years with persistent typical GERD symptoms for at least 6 months underwent endoscopy. Based on endoscopic findings, they were assigned to either dexlansoprazole modified-release 30 mg once-daily for 4 weeks (NERD group) or dexlansoprazole modified-release 60 mg once-daily for 8 weeks (EE group). The primary endpoint was the percentage of days that subjects did not experience any 24-hour heartburn or acid regurgitation.

Results

Of the 445 subjects screened from Hong Kong, South Korea, and Taiwan, 208 were enrolled in the NERD group (mean age: 53.6 years, male: 34.6%) and 88 in the EE group (mean age: 51.7 years, male: 55.7%). Over the treatment period, the median percentage of days that subjects did not experience any 24-hour heartburn or acid regurgitation was 26.9% and 65.5% in the NERD and EE groups, respectively; for nighttime heartburn or acid regurgitation the proportions were 59.3% and 83.3%, respectively. The treatment was well tolerated with low incidence of treatment-related adverse events in NERD and EE groups (6.7% and 5.7%, respectively).

Conclusion

In Asian patients with GERD, treatment with dexlansoprazole modified-release indicates a favorable efficacy and safety profile in relieving heartburn and acid regurgitation symptoms.

Dual Delayed-Release Dexlansoprazole for Healing and Maintenance of Healed Erosive Esophagitis: A Safety Study in Adolescents

BACKGROUND

In gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), the frequency of heartburn symptoms and erosive esophagitis (EE) increases with age in children and adolescents. Proton pump inhibitor, dexlansoprazole, is approved for healing EE of all grades, maintenance of healed EE, relief of heartburn, and treatment of symptomatic non-erosive GERD in patients ≥ 12 years.

AIM

To assess safety and efficacy of dexlansoprazole dual delayed-release capsule in healing of EE and maintenance of healed EE in adolescents.

METHODS

A multicenter, phase 2, 36-week study was conducted in 62 adolescents (12-17 years) with endoscopically confirmed EE. Patients received dexlansoprazole 60 mg once daily (QD) during open-label healing phase. Those with confirmed healing at week 8 were randomized to dexlansoprazole 30 mg QD or placebo during 16-week, double-blind maintenance phase, with subsequent treatment-free follow-up of ≥ 12 weeks. Primary endpoints were treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) in ≥ 5% of patients during treatment. Secondary endpoints included percentages of patients with healing of EE and with maintenance of healed EE.

RESULTS

88% of patients achieved EE healing, and 61.3% reported a TEAE [headache (12.9%), oropharyngeal pain (8.1%), diarrhea (6.5%), and nasopharyngitis (6.5%)]. During maintenance phase, healing was maintained in 82% and 58% of dexlansoprazole and placebo groups, respectively. 72.0% of dexlansoprazole-treated patients reported TEAEs, which included headache (24.0%), abdominal pain (12.0%), nasopharyngitis (12.0%), pharyngitis (12.0%), sinusitis (12.0%), bronchitis (8.0%), upper respiratory tract infection (8.0%), and insomnia (8.0%); 61.5% experienced a TEAE with placebo.

CONCLUSIONS

Dexlansoprazole is safe and efficacious for healing EE and maintenance of healed EE in adolescents.

First-week clinical responses to dexlansoprazole 60 mg and esomeprazole 40 mg for the treatment of grades A and B gastroesophageal reflux disease

AIM

To compare the one-week clinical effects of single doses of dexlansoprazole and esomeprazole on grades A and B erosive esophagitis.

METHODS

We enrolled 175 adult patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The patients were randomized in a 1:1 ratio into two sequence groups to define the order in which they received single doses of dexlansoprazole (n = 88) and esomeprazole (n = 87) for an intention-to-treat analysis. The primary end-points were the complete symptom resolution (CSR) rates at days 1, 3, and 7 after drug administration.

RESULTS

Thirteen patients were lost to follow-up, resulting in 81 patients in each group for the per-protocol analysis. The CSRs for both groups were similar at days 1, 3 and 7. In the subgroup analysis, the female patients achieved higher CSRs in the dexlansoprazole group than in the esomeprazole group at day 3 (38.3% vs 18.4%, P = 0.046). An increasing trend toward a higher CSR was observed in the dexlansoprazole group at day 7 (55.3% vs 36.8%, P = 0.09). In the esomeprazole group, female sex was a negative predictive factor for CSR on post-administration day 1 [OR = -1.249 ± 0.543; 95%CI: 0.287 (0.099-0.832), P = 0.022] and day 3 [OR = -1.254 ± 0.519; 95%CI: 0.285 (0.103-0.789), P = 0.016]. Patients with spicy food eating habits achieved lower CSRs on day 1 [37.3% vs 21.4%, OR = -0.969 ± 0.438; 95%CI: 0.380 (0.161-0.896), P = 0.027].

CONCLUSION

The overall CSR for GERD patients was similar at days 1-7 for both the dexlansoprazole and esomeprazole groups, although a higher incidence of CSR was observed on day 3 in female patients who received a single dose of dexlansoprazole.

Dexlansoprazole: delayed-release orally disintegrating tablets for the treatment of heartburn associated with non-erosive gastroesophageal reflux disease and the maintenance of erosive esophagitis

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common condition afflicting millions of patients, whose prevalence continues to rise owing to the aging population and increasing burden of comorbid conditions, such as obesity. Currently, the mainstay of therapy for GERD is treatment with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), which have proven efficacy, safety, and tolerability. Despite this, a considerable number of patients have refractory symptoms to PPI therapy. Dexlansoprazole is a new addition to the class of PPIs, which has a unique dual delayed drug release system, which aims to address the current limitations of acid suppressive therapy by offering extended acid suppression and improved ease of administration. Areas covered: This manuscript covers the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, clinical efficacy, and regulatory approval of dexlansoprazole. Additionally, there is further discussion concerning the current market settings and the potential future impact of dexlansoprazole. Expert commentary: Overall, dexlansoprazole offers benefits in its ease of administration and proven efficacy in the healing, maintenance of erosive esophagitis, and symptomatic non-erosive GERD. Long-term, dexlansoprazole will likely find a niche market among patients who fail other acid suppressive therapy or who desire simplified administration for compliance concerns, but will likely come at a higher out of pocket expense than comparable generic PPIs.

Pharmacological and Safety Profile of Dexlansoprazole: A New Proton Pump Inhibitor - Implications for Treatment of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease in the Asia Pacific Region

Although gastroesophageal reflux disease is not as common in Asia as in western countries, the prevalence has increased substantially during the past decade. Gastroesophageal reflux disease is associated with considerable reductions in subjective well-being and work productivity, as well as increased healthcare use. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are currently the most effective treatment for gastroesophageal reflux disease. However, there are limitations associated with these drugs in terms of partial and non-response. Dexlansoprazole is the first PPI with a dual delayed release formulation designed to provide 2 separate releases of medication to extend the duration of effective plasma drug concentration. Dexlansoprazole has been shown to be effective for healing of erosive esophagitis, and to improve subjective well-being by controlling 24-hour symptoms. Dexlansoprazole has also been shown to achieve good plasma concentration regardless of administration with food, providing flexible dosing. Studies in healthy volunteers showed no clinically important effects on exposure to the active metabolite of clopidogrel or clopidogrel-induced platelet inhibition, with no dose adjustment of clopidogrel necessary when coprescribed. This review discusses the role of the new generation PPI, dexlansoprazole, in the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease in Asia.