New acid blocker takes on standard drug for Post-Surgery reflux
NCT ID NCT06955520
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tests whether a newer acid-reducing drug, Vonaprazan, heals acid reflux better than the standard drug Esomeprazole in people who had POEM surgery for achalasia. About 300 adults with moderate to severe esophagitis will take one of the two drugs for 8 weeks. The goal is to see which drug heals the esophagus more effectively and improves symptoms like heartburn.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Vonaprazan (a potassium-competitive acid blocker) and Esomeprazole (a proton pump inhibitor)
- What this could lead to
- If Vonaprazan works better, it could offer a more effective way to heal acid reflux after POEM surgery, reducing symptoms and the need for stronger treatments.
- What could go wrong
- This is a relatively small, early-stage comparison. Vonaprazan may not prove significantly better than the standard drug, and results may not apply to all GERD patients.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
-
About 300 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
-
Apr 2025
- Expected to finish
-
Dec 2028
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
-
Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
-
18 to 75 years
- Sex
-
Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
-
Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Age ≥18 years * History of POEM for achalasia * Endoscopic confirmation of LA grade B, C, or D reflux esophagitis at 3 months post-POEM * GERD symptoms (heartburn, regurgitation) for ≥4 weeks * Willingness to provide informed consent and comply with study procedures Exclusion Criteria: * History of prior anti-reflux surgery * Presence of Barrett's esophagus, esophageal stricture, or malignancy * Severe gastroparesis or esophageal motility disorder unrelated to achalasia * Pregnancy or breastfeeding * Severe hepatic or renal impairment (ALT/AST \>3× ULN, eGFR \<30 mL/min) * Regular use of NSAIDs, steroids, or anticoagulants affecting esophageal healing
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for GERD are added.
Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor
Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
-
The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
-
The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
-
A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Asian Institute of Gastroenterology /Aig Hospitals
RECRUITINGHyderabad, Telangana, 500082, India
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Can banding the esophagus stop reflux? a small trial tests the idea
- Can a less invasive reflux surgery match the standard one?
- Can thread acupuncture boost GERD relief beyond standard pills?
- High-Altitude living: a hidden factor in esophageal health?
- Could a simple probe placement change improve GERD diagnosis for millions?
- Could a simple neck band protect transplanted lungs from stomach acid?