Cetraxate Hydrochloride

Rebamipide, a gastroprotective drug, was developed in Japan and was proven to be superior to cetraxate, the former most prescribed drug of the same category, in 1989 in the treatment for gastric ulcers. The initially discovered basic mechanisms of action of rebamipide included its action as a prostaglandin inducer and oxygen free-radical scavenger. In the last 5 years, several basic and clinical studies have been performed for functional dyspepsia, chronic gastritis, NSAID-induced gastrointestinal injuries, gastric ulcer following eradication therapy for Helicobacter pylori, gastric ulcer after endoscopic surgery and ulcerative colitis. In addition, several molecules have been identified as therapeutic targets of rebamipide to explain its pleiotropic pharmacological actions. The aim of this article is to provide an update on the pharmacological and clinical profile of rebamipide and to explore further possibilities for additional indications.

Most of the gastroprotective drugs which had been marketed in Japan were considered to have insufficient rationale for use as ulcer treatments. Such drugs may have a crucial role in maintaining mucosal integrity by the mechanisms other than inhibition of acid secretion. We re-evaluated the effect of gastroprotective drugs on gastric ulcer healing using current ICH E9 guidelines. We collected reports of pivotal trials on healing rate of gastric ulcer with 9 kinds of gastroprotective drugs submitted in New Drug Applications. In the comparative trial of cetraxate vs. placebo, the healing rate of gastric ulcer at 8-week endoscopy in the cetraxate was significantly higher than that in the placebo groups (88.6% and 62.2%, p = 0.0062). Non-inferiority to cetraxate was confirmed for 8 kinds of gastroprotective drugs. In conclusion, the superiority of cetraxate over placebo and non-inferiority to cetraxate for 7 drugs was established in the respect of effect on ulcer healing.