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NCT Number: NCT06984484

Performance and Safety of Afluxin® in Patients With Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is a chronic condition in which stomach acid flows back into the esophagus, causing irritation and inflammation. GERD is categorized into Nonerosive Reflux Disease (NERD), Erosive Esophagitis (EE), and Barrett's esophagus (BE). Common symptoms include heartburn and acid regurgitation. Lifestyle factors such as smoking, obesity, and Helicobacter pylori infection can increase the risk of developing GERD. The clinical management of GERD typically involves Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) therapy, which, although effective, may not benefit all patients and can be associated with long-term risks. The American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) suggests PPIs discontinuation or on-demand therapy for uncomplicated GERD after an 8-week trial. However, evidence indicates that PPIs are used more frequently, often long-term and in high doses, and not necessarily according to recommendations. Moreover, the availability of Over-The-Counter (OTC) PPIs has led to prolonged use by patients without medical guidance. Concerns have been raised due to potential side effects of long-term PPIs use, including enteric, respiratory, and urinary tract infections, as well as an increased risk of vitamin and mineral deficiencies and osteoporosis.

Alternatives to PPIs include Histamine-2 Receptor Antagonists (H2RAs), antacids and alginate-based formulations. Among OTC treatments, medical devices formulated with natural components are also gaining attention for their potential performance and tolerability in managing mild to moderate GERD symptoms. These alternatives could address the unmet needs of NERD patients, especially those with a low response to PPIs treatment and provide an option without the potential side effects of prolonged PPIs use. Afluxin® is a class III medical device, containing functional substances (tamarind seed polysaccharide, pea protein and polyacrylic acid), formulated for the treatment of mild to moderate GERD. Preclinical data have shown that Afluxin® is able to create a protective barrier over the gastroesophageal epithelium, preventing reflux damage. In vitro studies suggest that Afluxin® effectively binds to the esophageal and gastric mucosa, reducing abnormal permeability caused by acid reflux. Moreover, in vivo evidence shows that Afluxin® can increase gastric pH, reduce epigastric pain, esophageal damage, and inflammatory markers associated with GERD. Given the encouraging results obtained in preclinical investigations, this study is designed to provide clinical evidence to support the performance and safety of Afluxin® in reducing gastrointestinal symptoms of patients with mild to moderate GERD in a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, Afluxin® stick pack vs. inactive control clinical investigation.

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Key information

Conditions

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) Deglutition Disorders Digestive System Diseases Esophageal Diseases Esophageal Motility Disorders Gastroesophageal Reflux Gastrointestinal Diseases

Age range

18 year–75 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

IRCCS Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy

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Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Male and female patients, aged ≥ 18 years and ≤ 75 years.
  • Evidence of symptomatic GERD: patients with ongoing heartburn and/or regurgitation (with or without dyspepsia symptoms of epigastric pain and/or burning) of at least mild to moderate severity or experienced during the least 7 days before starting the treatment, as assessed on a clinical basis by the Investigator.
  • Patients not pre-treated with PPIs, even for problems different from GERD (e.g., gastroprotection, PPI-based triple or quadruple therapy for eradication of H. pylori), H2RAs, and/or with antiacids, alginates or medical devices made of substances (i.e., substance-based medical devices to treat GERD, gastroesophageal reflux and similar conditions) in the last week prior to screening.
  • Patient has provided written informed consent after being informed of the study procedures and risks prior to any study-related events.
  • Patients are able to understand and adhere to the study procedures.
  • Females of childbearing potential must have a negative urine pregnancy test (dipstick) at Visit 1 and currently use or agree to use consistently and correctly (i.e., perfect use) a highly effective or acceptable effective contraceptive method for the individual subject and her partner(s) throughout the study treatment period.

Exclusion criteria

  • Patient with hypersensitivity to any Afluxin® or inactive control components.
  • Rhinosinusitis or bronchitis.
  • Patients with a:
  • history and/or
  • symptom profile and/or
  • discovered on endoscopy suggestive of the following: any other Gastrointestinal (GI) disease, erosive GERD, BE, acute peptic ulcer and/or ulcer complications, hiatus hernia with a diameter which exceeds 3 cm, Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, esophageal or gastric cancer, pyloric stenosis, esophageal or gastric surgery, intestinal obstruction, current pernicious anemia, indication for H. pylori eradication therapy, known gastro-intestinal bleeding (hematochezia or hematemesis) within the last 12 months.
  • Patients diagnosed with functional dyspepsia characterized by postprandial distress syndrome (i.e., bothersome postprandial fullness and/or early satiation).
  • Patients with a history of gastro-esophageal surgery, anti-reflux, or bariatric procedure.
  • Presence of any active malignancy (except for non-invasive basal or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin).
  • Patients using any drug that could affect symptoms or affecting the gastrointestinal tract during the last week prior to screening:
  • prokinetics
  • systemic glucocorticosteroids
  • Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)
  • Patients who are pregnant or lactating.
  • Patients who are enrolled in or have participated in other clinical trials or investigations within 30 days prior to screening.
  • Clinically significant or unstable concurrent diseases whose sequelae or treatment might contraindicate study participation or interfere with the study evaluation parameters, as judged by the Investigator.

Treatment and study plan

Afluxin®

Device

Afluxin® stick pack is an oral suspension to be taken without any liquid 3 times a day after breakfast, lunch and before going to bed, for 7 days.

Placebo

Drug

Inactive control stick pack is an oral suspension to be taken without any liquid 3 times a day after breakfast, lunch and before going to bed, for 7 days.

Primary outcomes

  1. Assess the superiority of a 7-day treatment course with Afluxin® over inactive control in terms of difference between treatment groups in terms of proportion of responders

    Time frame: From enrollment to the end of the 7-day treatment

    The primary endpoint is the difference between treatment groups (Afluxin® and placebo) in terms of proportion of responders, defined as patients who report a reduction in the GERD dimension of the RDQ (Reflux Disease Questionnaire) equal to 1.5 points (clinically significant difference, according to Wilkinson et al., 2019), between baseline and the end of the 7-day treatment.

    In the RDQ questionnaire validated in Italian language, patients are asked to rate GERD-related symptoms they have been experiencing over the past 7 days. The questionnaire consists of 12 items to report the frequency and severity of heartburn, regurgitation and dyspepsia. In this study the two subscales for heartburn and regurgitation will be combined into the GERD dimension. Symptom frequency and severity will be measured on 6-point scales (ranging from 0=none to 5 =daily/severe).

Secondary outcomes

  1. RDQ GERD dimension, including single item scores

    Time frame: Baseline and at the end of the 7-day treatment

    GERD dimension evaluated through the RDQ (Reflux Disease Questionnaire) and evaluation of the single item scores, at the baseline and at the end of the 7-day treatment.

    In the RDQ questionnaire validated in Italian language, patients are asked to rate GERD-related symptoms they have been experiencing over the past 7 days. The self-assessed questionnaire will consist of 12 items to report the frequency and severity of heartburn, regurgitation and dyspepsia. The two subscales for heartburn and regurgitation will be combined into the GERD dimension. Symptom frequency and severity will be measured on 6-point scales (ranging from 0=none to 5 =daily/severe).

  2. RDQ dyspepsia dimension total and single item scores

    Time frame: Baseline and at the end of the 7-day treatment

    Dyspepsia dimension evaluated through the RDQ (Reflux Disease Questionnaire) total and single item scores, at the baseline and at the end of the 7-day treatment.

    In the RDQ questionnaire validated in Italian language, patients are asked to rate GERD-related symptoms they have been experiencing over the past 7 days. The self-assessed questionnaire will consist of 12 items to report the frequency and severity of heartburn, regurgitation and dyspepsia (burning/pain in the upper stomach). Symptom frequency and severity will be measured on 6-point scales (ranging from 0=none to 5 =daily/severe).

  3. Total and single item scores of the Reflux Symptom Index (RSI)

    Time frame: Baseline and at the end of the 7-day treatment

    Total and single item scores of the Reflux Symptom Index (RSI) at baseline and at the end of the 7-day treatment, assessing the severity of Laryngopharyngeal Reflux (LPR) symptoms.

    The RSI validated in Italian language, will be used for the evaluation of LPR symptoms that patients have been experiencing within the last month. The RSI examines 9 items, to be scored from 0 (no problem) to 5 (severe problem), with a higher score indicating a higher severity of the symptom (range of total score: 0-45) .

  4. Severity of GERD cardinal symptoms (i.e., heartburn and regurgitation)

    Time frame: Throughout the 7-day treatment

    Severity of GERD cardinal symptoms (i.e., heartburn and regurgitation) throughout the 7-day treatment, as self-assessed daily by patients using a 7-point Likert scale ranging from 1 = no discomfort to 7 = very severe discomfort.

  5. Severity of LPR symptoms (i.e., hoarseness/clearing the throat and troublesome cough)

    Time frame: Throughout the 7-day treatment

    Severity of (Laryngopharyngeal Reflux) LPR symptoms (i.e., hoarseness/clearing the throat and troublesome cough) throughout the 7-day treatment, as self-assessed daily by patients using a 7-point Likert scale ranging from 1 = no discomfort to 7 = very severe discomfort.

  6. Number and percentage of patients with occurrence of symptoms during the night

    Time frame: Throughout the 7-day treatment

    Number and percentage of patients with occurrence of symptoms during the night throughout the 7-day treatment

  7. Mean time to alleviation of symptoms following treatment administration

    Time frame: Throughout the 7-day treatment

    Mean time to alleviation of symptoms following treatment administration throughout the 7-day treatment, as self-assessed daily by patients

  8. Number and percentage of patients with complete remission of symptoms

    Time frame: At the end of the 7-day treatment

    Number and percentage of patients with complete remission of symptoms at the end of the 7-day treatment, defined as an RDQ (Reflux Disease Questionnaire) GERD dimension total score = 0 points.

    In the RDQ questionnaire validated in Italian language, patients are asked to rate GERD-related symptoms they have been experiencing over the past 7 days. The self-assessed questionnaire will consist of 12 items to report the frequency and severity of heartburn, regurgitation and dyspepsia. Symptom frequency and severity will be measured on 6-point scales (ranging from 0=none to 5 =daily/severe).

  9. Mean score on the self-report measure Patient's Global Impression of Change (PGI-C)

    Time frame: At the end of the 7-day treatment

    Mean score on the self-report measure Patient's Global Impression of Change (PGI-C) at the end of the 7-day treatment, assessing the patient's overall perceived change in their condition.

    The self-report measure PGI-C will be used to assess the overall perceived improvement at the end of the 7-day treatment. Patients will reply to the general statement "Since the start of the study, my overall status is'", using the following 7-point scale: 1=very much improved, 2=much improved, 3=minimally improved, 4=no change, 5=minimally worse, 6=much worse, and 7=very much worse.

  10. Number and percentage of patients who take prohibited medications

    Time frame: Throughout the 7-day treatment

    Number and percentage of patients who take prohibited medications (Proton Pump Inhibitors, Histamine-2 Receptor Antagonists, antiacid, alginates or medical devices made of substances).

  11. Patient's compliance with treatment

    Time frame: Throughout the 7-day treatment

    Patient's compliance with treatment protocol, in terms of adherence to the instructions and recommendations of the study treatment protocol. The information are recorded on the patient's diary and reviewed by the investigators. Patient differences in % compliance between the two treatments will be calculated.

  12. Patient's satisfaction with treatment

    Time frame: At the end of the 7-day treatment

    Patient's satisfaction with treatment, as self-assessed by the patient using a 5-point response scale, at the end of the 7-day treatment.

    At the end of the 7-day treatment the patient will record his/her opinion of satisfaction with treatment in the e-diary, answering the question: "How satisfied are you with the study treatment you received?" with a 5-point response scale (1=unsatisfied, 2=somewhat unsatisfied, 3=neutral, 4=somewhat satisfied, 5=satisfied).

  13. Safety: adverse events and device deficiencies

    Time frame: Throughout the 7-day treatment

    Incidence and type of AEs and DDs continuously monitored during the study

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Daniela Salvati

CONTACT

[email protected]

+39 3334828012

Maria Dini

CONTACT

[email protected]

+39 3383236335

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Devintec Sagl

Industry

Registry information

Official study title

A Multicenter, RandoMized, Double-blind, Parallel-grOup, Afluxin® Stick Pack vs. Inactive contRol Clinical Investigation to Evaluate the Performance and Safety in Patients With Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

Acronym: ARMOR

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
May 22, 2025
Registry last updated
Apr 8, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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