Dexlansoprazole Delayed Release: Pharmacotherapy of Erosive Esophagitis and GERD

Dexlansoprazole MR is a modified release formulation of the R-enantiomer of lansoprazole, which employs a novel Dual Delayed Release (DDR) technology. Pharmacokinetic studies have shown that the DDR technology provides a two peaks drug release, accuring 1–2 hours and 4–5 hours after dosing, leading to an extended duration of therapeutic plasma drug concentrations compared with conventional delayed release lansoprazole. Dexlansoprazole MR 30 and 60 mg provided superior intragastric pH control compared to that obtained with lansoprazole 15 mg and 30 mg once daily dosing. Dexlansoprazole can be taken without regard to food. The drug has been shown to be as efficacious as lansoprazole in healing, and superior to placebo in maintaining healing, of erosive esophagitis. Dexlansoprazole appears to be well tolerated with a comparable safety profile to lansoprazole. Overall, dexlansoprazole DR has an interesting pharmacokinetic profile and is effective and well tolerated in the healing and maintenance of erosive esophagitis and in the treatment of GERD. Nevertheless in the absence of head-to-head comparison there is no mean to recommend its use preferentially to other PPIs.