Efficacy of Potassium-Competitive Acid Blockers in Barrett's Esophagus (PCAB BE Study)

Overview

This is a research study to look at how a new medication compares to standard treatment for reducing acid reflux in patients with Barrett's Esophagus. The study drug is Vonoprazan. This is a pill that is not yet FDA-approved for this purpose in this patient population. The participants will first continue their current acid-reducing medicine (PPI) once a day for at least 7 days. After that, they will have a test to measure acid levels in their esophagus (food tube) while still taking the PPI medication. After this test, they will stop their current PPI medication and start taking the study drug, Vonoprazan, once a day for 7-28 days. They will then have a second acid test while on the study drug (Vonoprazan). Before each test, the participants will complete a short questionnaire about their symptoms. The study team will collect their health history, including medical conditions and current medications. After they finish the study drug, they will have a follow-up visit in about 30 days. The participation in the study will then end.

This is a prospective open-label study of PCAB in adults aged 18 years or older with nondysplastic Barrett's esophagus (NDBE) on maintenance PPI therapy. At the time of enrollment, participants will continue their usual PPI (any brand), standardized to once daily dosing for at least 7 days. After ≥7 days on once daily dosing, participants will undergo ambulatory 24-hour pH impedance testing without interruption of PPI therapy. After pH testing is complete, PPIs will be discontinued and replaced with vonoprazan 20 mg once daily for 7-28 days. After ≥7 days, 24-hour pH impedance testing will be repeated without interruption of vonoprazan therapy. Participants will complete a 30 day safety follow-up after the last dose of vonoprazan. Following completion of the follow-up visit, the patient's participation in the trial will end. Safety will be monitored throughout the study via assessing adverse events and conducting pregnancy and liver function testing. Participants will complete the validated Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease-Health Related Quality of Life (GERD-HRQL) questionnaire prior to each pH study to assess symptom burden. Additionally, a health history questionnaire assessing comorbidities, concurrent medications, and past acid suppressive regimens, will be collected. PPIs and PCABs are FDA-approved but their efficacy has not been compared in the NDBE sub-group enrolled on this study, an open-label prospective cohort without a control arm is the most appropriate and feasible study design as the study aims to compare two treatment methods in the same participant. Because participants will be used as their own comparator, a placebo arm is not needed. Furthermore, maintenance of patients with known BE on a placebo may induce reflux esophagitis.