Dual Therapy with Vonoprazan and Amoxicillin Is as Effective as Triple Therapy with Vonoprazan, Amoxicillin and Clarithromycin for Eradication of Helicobacter pylori

Abstract

<b><i>Backgrounds/Aims:</i></b> Vonoprazan (VPZ) is the first clinically available potassium competitive acid blocker. This class of agents provides faster and more potent acid inhibition than proton pump inhibitors. Most strains of <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> are sensitive to amoxicillin. We hypothesized that dual therapy with VPZ and amoxicillin would provide the sufficient eradication rate for <i>H. pylori</i> infection. To evaluate this, we compared the eradication rate by the dual VPZ/amoxicillin therapy with that by the standard triple VPZ/amoxicillin/clarithromycin therapy. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Non-inferiority of the eradication rate of <i>H. pylori</i> by the dual therapy with VPZ 20 mg twice daily (bid) and amoxicillin 500 mg 3 times daily (tid) for 1 week to that by the triple therapy with VPZ 20 mg bid, amoxicillin 750 mg bid and clarithromycin 200 mg bid for 1 week was retrospectively studied. Propensity score matching was performed to improve comparability between 2 regimen groups. Successful eradication was diagnosed using the [¹³C]-urea breath test at 1–2 months after the end of eradication therapy. <b><i>Results:</i></b> The intention-to-treat analysis demonstrated that the eradication rate by the dual therapy (92.9%; 95% CI 82.7–98.0%, 52/56) was not inferior to that of the triple therapy (91.9%; 95% CI 80.4–97.0%, 51/56; OR 1.275, 95% CI 0.324–5.017%, <i>p</i> = 0.728). There were no statistically significant differences in incidences of adverse events between 2 regimens. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> VPZ-based dual therapy (VPZ 20 mg bid and amoxicillin 500 mg tid for 1 week) provides an acceptable eradication rate of <i>H. pylori</i> infection without the need for second antimicrobial agents, such as clarithromycin.