Superior acid control proven with nexium 40 mg

SUPERIOR ACID CONTROL PROVEN WITH NEXIUM® 40 MG ® 20 June 2000 -- Gothenburg -- New data presented today shows that Nexium 40 mg provides superior acid control to omeprazole 40 mg. Results of a randomized and two-way crossover of 130 symptomatic GERD sufferers, presented for the first time at the XXXII Nordic Meeting of Gastroenterology, Gothenburg, Sweden, 19-21 June 2000, showed that at day one of repeated once daily administration, the percentage of patients with ® intragastric pH>4 for >12 hours with Nexium is 50 percent, whereas omeprazole 40 mg achieved this benefit in only 34 percent (p<0.01). At day ® five, Nexium continues to benefit more patients with 88 percent having an intragastric pH>4 for >12 hours, while omeprazole achieved this result in only 77 percent (p<0.01). ® The study also showed that Nexium 40 mg provides greater time with intragastric pH> 4 than omeprazole 40 mg in patients with GERD, on both day one and five. At day one, for 48.6 percent (45.1-52.2) of the 24 hour ® treatment period Nexium maintained intragastric pH> 4, whereas omeprazole only achieved this result for 40.6 percent (37.0-44.1) of 24 hours (p<0.001). This means up to an additional two hours with pH>4 can be ® achieved with Nexium . This benefit is also sustained, with a comparable ® result at day five with 68.4 percent (65.4-71.4) for Nexium and 62.0 percent (59.0-65.0) for omeprazole (p<0.001). The intragastric pH measure is the standard and widely accepted criterion for comparing the acid suppression ability of PPIs. The length of time that a PPI maintains pH>4 is a strong and reliable marker for clinical efficacy. "We have presented this new study to clearly prove that the rationale for ® Nexium superiority compared to omeprazole is sound" said Dr Martin Nicklasson, Executive Vice President GI Franchise, AstraZeneca. ® "Nexium is the first PPI that has shown significant clinical advantages over all PPIs, providing patients benefits that will make a real difference. The study results presented today are in-line with the pharmacokinetic profiles of the drugs and were therefore the expected ® outcome. Nexium has an advantageous metabolism which results in higher bioavailability." said Dr Hans Glise, Vice President, Head Gastrointestinal Therapy Area, AstraZeneca. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a clinical condition in which reflux (backward flow) of stomach acid into the esophagus (gullet) is severe enough to cause recurrent symptoms that significantly impact on patients' lives, and, in some cases, damage the esophagus. Heartburn is the most common symptom of this often chronic, debilitating disease, which affects a significant proportion of the world's population - as many as 50 million Europeans are estimated to suffer from GERD. Despite its extremely widespread occurrence, many people with GERD do not know that this ® condition is easily treatable. Nexium promotes highly effective acid control and is therefore the rationale choice for treatment of patients with this disease. ® Nexium (esomeprazole) is the first proton pump inhibitor (PPI) developed as an isomer to have shown significant advantages over omeprazole. Based on extensive clinical studies involving more than 15,000 patient ® treatments, Nexium has shown superior efficacy, healing, and symptom ® relief of acid-related diseases. Nexium has shown superior acid control, which is both faster and more sustained, compared to all other PPIs. ® Nexium has received approval in Sweden for both initial and long-term management of GERD, healing of H. pylori-associated duodenal ulcers and prevention of relapse of peptic ulcer disease. ® Nexium has a tolerability profile similar to omeprazole, and the most common side effects observed are headache, abdominal pain, and diarrhoea. AstraZeneca is a major international healthcare business engaged in the research, development, manufacture and marketing of ethical (prescription) pharmaceuticals and the supply of healthcare services. It is one of the top five pharmaceutical companies in the world with healthcare sales of over $15 billion and leading positions in sales of gastrointestinal, oncology, anaesthesia including pain management, cardiovascular, central nervous system (CNS) and respiratory products. For further enquiries, please contact: Steve Brown, +44 20 7304 5034 Lucy Williams, +44 20 7304 5033 Staffan Ternby, +46 8 553 261 07 ------------------------------------------------------------ Please visit http://www.bit.se for further information The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2000/06/20/20000620BIT00500/bit0001.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2000/06/20/20000620BIT00500/bit0002.pdf