AstraZeneca Studies Show Relief of Nighttime Heartburn and Reduction in GERD-Related Sleep Di...( WILMINGTON Del. June 2 /- Two studi...),Health

WILMINGTON, Del., June 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Two studies from AstraZeneca (NYSE: AZN) show that symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) patients treated with NEXIUM(R) (esomeprazole magnesium) 20 mg daily experienced greater relief from nighttime heartburn and GERD-related sleep disturbances compared with patients taking placebo over four weeks(1). NEXIUM 20 mg is indicated for the treatment of heartburn and other symptoms associated with GERD. NEXIUM, in a class of drugs called proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), demonstrated efficacy in relieving moderate-to-severe nighttime heartburn and GERD-related sleep disturbances in two randomized, placebo-controlled trials(2). These findings were presented in three separate abstracts at Digestive Disease Week 2009 in Chicago.

GERD is a condition that occurs when acidic stomach contents back up into the esophagus, often causing painful and uncomfortable symptoms such as heartburn. A study of U.S. patients with symptomatic GERD shows that approximately seven in 10 experience symptoms when they go to bed at night, and more than half are awakened by their symptoms after falling asleep(3). Studies suggest that nighttime GERD symptoms can be more severe than GERD that is symptomatic only during the day(3)(4)(5).

"Nighttime symptoms are particularly bothersome for people with GERD because they can disrupt a full night's sleep," said David A. Johnson, M.D., Professor of Medicine and Chief of Gastroenterology at the Eastern Virginia School of Medicine in Norfolk, Virginia. "This study shows that NEXIUM can be an effective treatment option for people with GERD whose sleep is disrupted by heartburn."

Before treatment with NEXIUM, patients had moderate-to-severe nighttime heartburn and GERD-related sleep disturbances on 3 out of 7 days. GERD-related slee
'/>"/>