Takeda reports ‘effective treatment’ for preventing peptic ulcer recurrence

Takeda Pharmaceutical has announced that the eradication of Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) in the stomach is an effective treatment to reduce the recurrence of peptic ulcers in patients with a history of the condition.

An additional dosage and administration for the secondary eradication of the bacteria for its proton pump inhibitors (PPI) has been approved this week for use in Japan.

This regimen includes a PPI, amoxicillin and metronidazole, which is administered in patients who have failed to eradicate the bacteria after receiving a PPI, amoxycillin and clarithromycin.

Possible PPIs for use as part of these treatment regimens include Takepron (lansoprazole) – marketed by Takeda, Omepral (omeprazole) from AstraZeneca KK and Eisa’s Pariet (rabeprazole sodium).

“H pylori is one of the bacteria commonly existing in the human stomach and is known to have the pivotal role in the onset of peptic ulcers,” Takeda reports.

It adds that, consequently, the eradication of the bacteria provides an effective treatment option for the prophylaxis of peptic ulcers, which can significantly reduce the recurrence rate for patients with a history of such ulcers.

In January 2007, it was claimed that the beneficial effects of antibiotics could be magnified by over 50 times if administered concurrently with bacterio-phages – viruses that infect bacteria.