New drugs to suppress acid secretion: current and future developments

Despite the dramatic success of pharmacological acid suppression in healing peptic ulcers and managing patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a number of challenges remain in the management of acid-related disorders. Some new drugs are currently being investigated to provide a significant advance on current treatments. Some of them (namely new drug formulations, novel proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), potassium-competitive acid blockers (P-CABs), and CCK2-receptor antagonists) have already reached clinical testing while some others (like H3-receptor ligands or NO-releasing antisecretory compounds) are still in preclinical development and need the proof of concept in human beings.

Section editor:Gareth J. Sanger – Immuno-Inflammation Centre of Excellence for Drug Discovery, GlaxoSmithKline, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, UK