Axcan Pharma reports interim Phase III results

Interim results from 155 patients in AXP's 260-patient North American Phase III trial showed that the combination of omeprazole plus AXP's Helicide, a single capsule combining colloidal bismuth subcitrate, metronidazole and tetracycline, was as effective in eradicating Helicobacter pylori infections as the standard combination of omeprazole, clarithromycin and amoxicillin. On an intent-to-treat basis, the H. pylori eradication rates were 86 percent for the Helicide group and 73 percent for the control group. AXP said that a single capsule treatment could overcome compliance problems with the standard combination therapy. ...