Ecabet sodium eradicates Helicobacter pylori infection in gastric ulcer patients

Ecabet sodium (ecabet), a new agent that has protective effects on the gastric mucosa has anti-Helicobacter pylori effects, binding with urease to inhibit H. pylori activity, and causing the bacterial to become non-viable. Ecabet monotherapy eradicates H. pylori infection in Japanese monkeys. We investigated a new regimen that included ecabet to eradicate H. pylori infection in gastric ulcer patients. Fifty-five H. pylori-positive patients with gastric ulcer were randomly assigned to one of two groups: group 1 received dual therapy with lansoprazole (30 mg o.d.) for 8 weeks plus clarithromycin (200 mg b.i.d.) or amoxicillin (250 mg q.i.d.) for 2 weeks. Group 2 received triple therapy with lansoprazole (30 mg o.d.) and ecabet sodium (1.0 g b.i.d.) for 8 weeks plus clarithromycin (200 mg b.i.d.) or amoxicillin (250 mg q.i.d.) for 2 weeks. Four weeks after the treatment was withdrawn, H. pylori status was evaluated by histological examination, rapid urease test, and culture. The eradication rate was 26% (7 out of 27 patients) in group 1 and 79% (22 out of 28 patients) in group 2. All patients completed the treatment. The addition of ecabet to the regimen increased the eradication rate of H. pylori infection, and there were no associated major side effects.