Randomized, parallel, double-blind comparison of the ulcer-healing effects of ilaprazole and omeprazole in the treatment of gastric and duodenal ulcers

Purpose Ilaprazole (IY-81149) is a new proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) not previously studied in human patients with ulcer disease. This study evaluated and compared it with a reference PPI, omeprazole, in the treatment of gastric and duodenal ulcers. Methods This was a double-blind, parallel, randomized study. Patients aged 18 years and above with at least one endoscopically confirmed active non-malignant gastric/duodenal ulcer were treated with 20 mg/day omeprazole or 5 mg/day or 10 mg/day ilaprazole for four weeks. Healing of ulcer was determined by its resolution from active to scarring stage. Symptoms relief was evaluated using a graded score. Safety and tolerability were evaluated on basis of clinical assessments. Between-group differences were tested using ANOVA or ANCOVA, as appropriate. Statistical significance was assumed at a two-tailed p value of B0.05. Results Two hundred and twelve gastric ulcer patients (median age 53.3 years) and 306 duodenal ulcer patients (median age 49.7 years) were recruited; 71.8 and 85% of gastric and duodenal ulcer patients, respectively, completed the study. Ulcers were successfully healed in 64.29, 67.14, and 63.89% of gastric ulcer patients and 78.85, 83.65, and 78.57% of duodenal ulcer patients after treatment with 20 mg omeprazole, 5 mg ilaprazole, and 10 mg ilaprazole, respectively. Most patients (>90%) became asymptomatic after treatment. At the dosages administered, both drugs exhibited similar efficacy and a similar safety profile. Conclusions Ilaprazole is as tolerable, safe, and efficacious as omeprazole in the treatment of gastroduodenal ulcers, at a much lower dose (5 vs. 20 mg omeprazole).