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A Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Vonoprazan Compared to Placebo for Relief of Heartburn in Participants With Symptomatic Non-Erosive Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (NERD)

A Phase 3, Randomized, Double-Blind, Multicenter Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Vonoprazan 10 and 20 mg Compared to Placebo for Relief of Heartburn in Subjects With Symptomatic Non-Erosive Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (NERD) After 4 Weeks and to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Vonoprazan 10 and 20 mg for Relief of Heartburn in Subjects With NERD After 6 Months

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 3
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05195528
Enrollment
776
Registered
2022-01-19
Start date
2022-01-17
Completion date
2023-05-17
Last updated
2023-12-29

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Heartburn, Non-Erosive Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease

Keywords

NERD, Vonoprazan

Brief summary

The primary objectives of this study are to assess the efficacy of vonoprazan (10 mg and 20 mg once daily \[QD\]) compared to placebo (QD) in relief of heartburn over 4 weeks in participants with NERD.

Interventions

DRUGVonoprazan

Orally via capsule

DRUGPlacebo

Orally via capsule

Sponsors

Phathom Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Lead SponsorINDUSTRY

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Investigator)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

1. The participant is ≥18 years of age at the time of informed consent signing. 2. In the opinion of the investigator or subinvestigators, the participant is capable of understanding and complying with protocol requirements, including compliance with the electronic diary. 3. The participant signs and dates a written informed consent form (ICF) and any required privacy authorization prior to the initiation of any study procedures. The participant is informed of the full nature and purpose of the study, including possible risks and side effects. The participant has the ability to cooperate with the investigator. Ample time and opportunity should be given to read and understand verbal and/or written instructions. 4. The subject has a diagnosis of symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) with heartburn as the subject's predominant symptom prior to the Screening Period, as documented in the subject's medical record. 5. History of onset of heartburn at least 6 months prior to the Screening Period. 6. Heartburn reported on 4 or more days during any consecutive 7-day period of the Screening Period as recorded in the electronic diary. 7. A female participant of childbearing potential who is or may be sexually active with a non-sterilized male partner agrees to routinely use adequate contraception from the signing of informed consent until 4 weeks after the last dose of study drug.

Exclusion criteria

1. The participant has endoscopically confirmed erosive esophagitis (EE) during the Screening Period. Endoscopy conducted during the Screening Period should be performed after participants meet Inclusion Criterion 6 (i.e., heartburn reported on 4 or more days during any consecutive 7-day period of the Screening Period as recorded in the electronic diary). 2. The participant has active irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or has had a flare of IBS requiring therapy within the prior 6 months. 3. The participant has a history of or is suspected of having functional upper gastrointestinal disorders, such as: 1. Functional heartburn, as described in the Rome IV Criteria. 2. Functional dyspepsia, as described in the Rome IV Criteria. 4. The participant has endoscopic Barrett's esophagus (\>1 cm of columnar-lined esophagus) and/or definite dysplastic changes in the esophagus. 5. The participant has any other clinically significant condition affecting the esophagus, including eosinophilic esophagitis; esophageal varices; viral or fungal infection; esophageal stricture; a history of radiation therapy, radiofrequency ablation, endoscopic mucosal resection, or cryotherapy to the esophagus; or any history of caustic or physiochemical trauma (including sclerotherapy or esophageal variceal band ligation). However, participants diagnosed with Schatzki's ring (mucosal tissue ring around lower esophageal sphincter) or hiatal hernia are eligible to participate. 6. The participant has scleroderma (systemic sclerosis) or systemic lupus erythematosus. 7. The participant has a history of surgery or endoscopic treatment affecting gastroesophageal reflux, including fundoplication and dilation for esophageal stricture (except dilation for a Schatzki's ring) or a history of gastric or duodenal surgery (except endoscopic removal of benign polyps). 8. The participant has an active gastric or duodenal ulcer within 4 weeks before the first dose of study drug. 9. The participant requires or is expected to require use of prescription or non-prescription proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) or histamine-2 receptor antagonists (H2RAs) throughout the study. 10. The participant has received any investigational compound (including those in post-marketing studies) within 30 days prior to the start of the Screening Period or vonoprazan in a clinical trial at any time (including participation in Study NERD-201). A participant who has been screen failed from another clinical study and who has not been dosed may be considered for enrollment in this study. 11. The participant is a study site employee, an immediate family member, or is in a dependent relationship with a study site employee who is involved in the conduct of this study (eg, spouse, parent, child, sibling) or who may have consented under duress. 12. The participant has had clinically significant upper or lower gastrointestinal bleeding within 4 weeks prior to the Screening Period. 13. The participant has Zollinger-Ellison syndrome or other gastric acid hypersecretory conditions. 14. The participant has a history of hypersensitivity or allergies to vonoprazan (including the formulation excipients: D-mannitol, microcrystalline cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, fumaric acid, croscarmellose sodium, magnesium stearate, hypromellose, macrogol 8000, and titanium oxide, or red or yellow ferric oxide). Skin testing may be performed according to local standard practice to confirm hypersensitivity. 15. The participant has a history of alcohol abuse, illegal drug use, or drug addiction within the 12 months prior to screening, or regularly consumes \>21 units of alcohol (1 unit = 12 oz/300 mL beer, 1.5 oz/25 mL hard liquor/spirits, or 5 oz/100 mL wine) per week based on self-report. Participants must have a negative urine drug screen for cannabinoids/tetrahydrocannabinol (including prescription cannabinoids) and non-prescribed medications during the Screening Period. 16. The participant is taking any excluded medications or treatments listed in the protocol, including prescription cannabinoids/tetrahydrocannabinol. 17. If female, the participant is pregnant, lactating, or intending to become pregnant before, during, or within 4 weeks after participating in this study, or intending to donate ova during such time period. 18. The participant has a history or clinical manifestations of significant central nervous system, cardiovascular, pulmonary, hepatic, renal, metabolic, other gastrointestinal, urological, endocrine, or hematological disease that, in the opinion of the investigator, would confound the study results or compromise participant safety. 19. The participant requires hospitalization or has surgery scheduled during the course of the study (from Visit 1 to end of Follow-up Period at Visit 10) or has undergone major surgical procedures within 30 days prior to the Screening Period. 20. The participant has a history of malignancy (including mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma) or has been treated for malignancy within 5 years prior to the start of the Screening Period (Visit 1). (The participant may be included in the study if he/she has cured cutaneous basal cell carcinoma or cervical carcinoma in situ). 21. The participant has acquired immunodeficiency syndrome or human immunodeficiency virus infection, or tests positive for the hepatitis B surface antigen, hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody, or HCV-ribonucleic acid (RNA). However, participants who test positive for HCV antibody but negative for HCV-RNA are permitted to participate. 22. The participant has any of the following abnormal laboratory test values at the start of the Screening Period: 1. Creatinine levels: \>2 mg/dL (\>177 μmol/L). 2. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) or aspartate aminotransferase (AST) \>2 × the upper limit of normal (ULN) or total bilirubin \>2 × ULN (except for participants with a diagnosis of Gilbert's syndrome). 23. The subject tests positive for active H pylori infection during the Screening Period, after ≥4 weeks free from antibiotics and bismuth and ≥2 weeks free from PPIs and histamine-2 receptor antagonists (H2RAs).

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Percentage of Days Without Daytime or Nighttime HeartburnDay 1 to Day 28Participants were assigned an electronic diary to complete twice daily, in the morning and evening. Diary day was considered heartburn-free if both morning and evening diary entries were heartburn-free and there was no reported use of rescue antacid, H2RAs, or PPIs.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Percentage of Days Without Rescue Antacid UseDay 1 to Day 28Participants were assigned an electronic diary to complete twice daily, in the morning and evening. Participants recorded use of rescue antacid.

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Recruitment details

Participants were recruited across 91 sites in the United States in the period of time from January 2022 to May 2023. Participants were in the study for a period of time up to 33 weeks.

Pre-assignment details

Participant were randomized in a 1:1:1 ratio to receive vonoprazan 10 mg , vonoprazan 20 mg, or placebo during the Part 1 Placebo-controlled Treatment Period. In the Part 2 Extension Period participants who had been assigned vonoprazan in Part 1 continued with their assigned treatment while those assigned placebo in Part 1 were re-randomized to receive vonoprazan 10 mg or 20 mg.

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Placebo
Participants with NERD and heartburn symptoms were randomized to receive placebo QD for 4 weeks during the Part 1 Placebo-controlled Treatment Period.
258
Vonoprazan 10 mg
Participants with NERD and heartburn symptoms were randomized to receive vonoprazan 10 mg QD for 4 weeks during the Part 1 Placebo-controlled Treatment Period.
257
Vonoprazan 20 mg
Participants with NERD and heartburn symptoms were randomized to receive vonoprazan 20 mg QD for 4 weeks during the Part 1 Placebo-controlled Treatment Period.
257
Total772

Withdrawals & dropouts

PeriodReasonFG000FG001FG002FG003FG004
Extension PeriodLack of Efficacy03002
Extension PeriodLost to Follow-up061337
Extension PeriodNot Treated00230
Extension PeriodOther01100
Extension PeriodProtocol Violation02101
Extension PeriodPTE or AE or SAE04544
Extension PeriodWithdrawal by Subject012965
Placebo-controlled Treatment PeriodLack of Efficacy20000
Placebo-controlled Treatment PeriodLost to Follow-up03400
Placebo-controlled Treatment PeriodNot Treated11200
Placebo-controlled Treatment PeriodOther00100
Placebo-controlled Treatment PeriodPre-Treatment Event (PTE) or Adverse Event (AE) or Serious Adverse Event (SAE)21600
Placebo-controlled Treatment PeriodProtocol Violation11000
Placebo-controlled Treatment PeriodWithdrawal by Subject62400

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicPlaceboVonoprazan 10 mgVonoprazan 20 mgTotal
Age, Continuous51.5 Years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 14.74
51 Years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 14.03
50.4 Years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 14.39
50.9 Years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 14.38
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Hispanic or Latino
77 Participants87 Participants80 Participants244 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Not Hispanic or Latino
180 Participants165 Participants171 Participants516 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
1 Participants5 Participants6 Participants12 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
1 Participants3 Participants0 Participants4 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
12 Participants22 Participants11 Participants45 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
33 Participants38 Participants52 Participants123 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
3 Participants4 Participants4 Participants11 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
4 Participants4 Participants5 Participants13 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
205 Participants186 Participants185 Participants576 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
179 Participants182 Participants166 Participants527 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
79 Participants75 Participants91 Participants245 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
EG002
affected / at risk
EG003
affected / at risk
EG004
affected / at risk
EG005
affected / at risk
EG006
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
0 / 2590 / 2580 / 2590 / 1220 / 1220 / 2470 / 237
other
Total, other adverse events
17 / 25628 / 25932 / 25726 / 11811 / 12140 / 24845 / 236
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 2561 / 2592 / 2572 / 1184 / 1217 / 2483 / 236

Outcome results

Primary

Percentage of Days Without Daytime or Nighttime Heartburn

Participants were assigned an electronic diary to complete twice daily, in the morning and evening. Diary day was considered heartburn-free if both morning and evening diary entries were heartburn-free and there was no reported use of rescue antacid, H2RAs, or PPIs.

Time frame: Day 1 to Day 28

Population: Intent-to-treat (ITT) was defined as all participants randomized into the placebo-controlled treatment period who received at least one dose of study drug and had available data.

ArmMeasureValue (LEAST_SQUARES_MEAN)
PlaceboPercentage of Days Without Daytime or Nighttime Heartburn27.7 Percentage of days
Vonoprazan 10 mgPercentage of Days Without Daytime or Nighttime Heartburn44.8 Percentage of days
Vonoprazan 20 mgPercentage of Days Without Daytime or Nighttime Heartburn44.4 Percentage of days
p-value: <0.000195% CI: [11.81, 22.45]General linear model
p-value: <0.000195% CI: [11.36, 22.04]General linear model
Secondary

Percentage of Days Without Rescue Antacid Use

Participants were assigned an electronic diary to complete twice daily, in the morning and evening. Participants recorded use of rescue antacid.

Time frame: Day 1 to Day 28

Population: ITT was defined as all participants randomized into the placebo-controlled treatment period who received at least one dose of study drug and had available data.

ArmMeasureValue (LEAST_SQUARES_MEAN)
PlaceboPercentage of Days Without Rescue Antacid Use47.6 Percentage of days
Vonoprazan 10 mgPercentage of Days Without Rescue Antacid Use63.3 Percentage of days
Vonoprazan 20 mgPercentage of Days Without Rescue Antacid Use61.2 Percentage of days
p-value: <0.000195% CI: [9.93, 21.6]General linear model
p-value: <0.000195% CI: [7.84, 19.54]General linear model

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 6, 2026