Esaprazole in the treatment of gastric ulcer: preliminary clinical trial

The activity and tolerability of esaprazole administered once a day at doses of 900 and 1350 mg/day in the treatment of gastric ulcer were evaluated in a preliminary study carried out in 47 patients. The results failed to show any difference between the two doses in terms of percentage of ulcer healing after 4 weeks (43% and 45% respectively) or 8 weeks (86% and 82%), or in the course of symptoms and signs, which improved rapidly. The safety of esaprazole was good, no modifications of laboratory parameters being observed. Although the study involved only a small number of patients, the findings obtained indicate the potential usefulness of esaprazole in the treatment of gastric ulcer.