Rabeprazole Extended-Release 50 mg vs. Ranitidine 150 mg for Maintenance of Healed Erosive Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

eGERD (erosive gastroesophageal reflux disease) healing measured by the Time-to-Relapse of Oesophageal Erosions using an Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). Lesions were identified and graded using the following Los Angeles (LA) classification of Oesophagitis: Not Present: No breaks (erosions) in the esophageal mucosa (however, edema, erythema, or friability may be present). Grade A: One or more mucosal breaks not more than 5mm in maximum length. Grade B: One or more mucosal breaks more than 5mm in maximum length, but not continuous between the tops of 2 mucosal folds. Grade C: Mucosal breaks continuous between the tops of 2 or more mucosal folds, but involving less than 75% of the esophageal circumference. Grade D: Mucosal breaks involving at least 75% of the esophageal circumference.

Heartburn or other GERD-associated symptoms (regurgitation, epigastric or chest pain, dysphagia, belching, bloating, early satiety, other) was based on a 4-point Likert scale that included the following: None (No symptoms); Mild (Awareness of symptoms but easily tolerated); Moderate (Discomforting symptom sufficient to cause interference with normal activities including sleep); Severe (Incapacitating symptom, inability to perform normal activities).

An adverse event (AE) was any untoward medical occurrence in a participant administered an investigational product. A treatment emergent AE (TEAE) was any AE beginning on or after the confirmed date of first dose of study medication, up to and including 7 days after the last dose of study medication. A TEAE was considered related to study treatment if a causal relationship between the study treatment and the AE was a reasonable possibility. AEs were graded as severe if they were incapacitating, with inability to work or to perform normal daily activity. Serious AEs (SAEs) were events that resulted in death, were life-threatening, required inpatient hospitalization or prolongation of existing hospitalization, resulted in persistent or significant disability/incapacity, or were a congenital anomaly/birth defect.