The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of vonoprazan compared to esomeprazole for preventing heartburn symptoms over a 4-week treatment period in participants who have a partial response to treatment with esomeprazole.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion criteria
. In the opinion of the investigator, the participant is capable of understanding and complying with protocol requirements.
. The participant or, when applicable, the participant's legally acceptable representative signs and dates a written, informed consent form and any required privacy authorization prior to the initiation of any study procedures.
. Is a man or a woman and ≥18 years of age, at the time of the Screening visit.
. Has a documented history of symptoms of both heartburn (burning pain) and acid regurgitation prior to entry into the study.
. The subject has a medical history of ≥ 8 weeks of persistent heartburn symptoms in the presence of regurgitation symptoms (persistent heartburn symptoms defined as heartburn symptoms on ≥ 2 days a week) that are troublesome despite appropriate and correctly performed treatment with a PPI at standard doses.
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Percentage of Heartburn-Free 24-Hour Periods (Day and Night) During 4 Weeks of Treatment
. Is ≥85% compliant at taking their Run-in medication and completing their e-Diary. Compliance for taking the Run-in medication is defined as the medication provided (esomeprazole and placebo) taken for 85% of the 6 weeks Run-in Period (or on 36 of 42 days of the Run-in Period).Compliance for the e-Diary is defined as the percentage of scheduled assessments that are completed based on 2 assessments per day (daytime and nighttime). For randomization, 85% compliance is required and is defined as 12 of 14 assessments completed over the 7-day period (Day -21 to Day-14) prior to the single blind Placebo Run-in Period.
. Has a partial response to a PPI defined as having heartburn on 2 to 5 days and regurgitation on at least one day of the last week (Week 4) of a 4 week PPI Run-In Period with esomeprazole 40 mg and an increase of at least 2 symptom days of heartburn in the last week of a 2 week Placebo Run-In Period (4 to 7 symptom days) and at least one symptom day with regurgitation compared with the last week of the PPI Run-In Period.
. A female participant of childbearing potential who is sexually active with a nonsterilized male partner agrees to use routinely adequate contraception from signing of informed consent throughout the duration of the study and for 4 weeks after last dose of the study medication.
Exclusion criteria
. Has received any investigational compound within 30 days prior to the Screening Visit.
. Has received vonoprazan in a previous clinical study.
. Is an immediate family member, study site employee, is in a dependent relationship with a study site employee who is involved in conduct of this study (eg, spouse, parent, child, sibling), or may have consented under duress.
. Has, in the judgment of the investigator, clinically significant abnormal hematological parameters of hemoglobin, hematocrit, or erythrocytes at Screening.
. Has a history of erosive esophagitis of Los Angeles (LA) Classification Grade B severity or worse prior to screening or at Screening endoscopy.
. Has a history of or any coexisting diseases affecting the esophagus (eg, Barrett's esophagus, eosinophilic esophagitis, esophageal varices, scleroderma, viral or fungal infection, or esophageal stricture), history of radiation therapy or cryotherapy to the esophagus, caustic trauma, or physiochemical trauma such as sclerotherapy to the esophagus.
. Has "alarm features" in symptomatology, including odynophagia, severe dysphagia, bleeding, weight loss, anemia, and blood in stool, pointing to a possible malignant disease of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Participants displaying "alarm symptoms" in addition to the "typical" gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms may be included based on endoscopic exclusion of malignancy.
. Has current or historical chest pain due to cardiac diseases (eg, within one year).