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In late 2023, the U.S. FDA approved the drug vonoprazan (Voquezna) for managing erosive esophagitis.
This drug — a potassium-competitive acid blocker — is a potent inhibitor of the final step in gastric acid secretion and has some pharmacologic advantages over proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs): For example, it has a longer half-life than PPIs and does not require administration 30 to 60 minutes before eating for maximal effect. Erosive esophagitis is the second FDA-approved indication for vonoprazan; it was approved previously for managing Helicobacter pylori infections, packaged in combination with amoxicillin and clarithromycin (triple therapy) or with amoxicillin alone (dual therapy).
In March 2024, the manufacturer launched a direct…