POZEN announces Phase I study results of PA65020

POZEN Inc. (NASDAQ: POZN) announced today the results of a Phase I study that showed a novel, investigational combination of enteric-coated aspirin (EC-ASA) and immediate-release omeprazole known as PA65020, is associated with a significantly decreased risk of GI mucosal damage compared to analgesic doses (650 mg twice daily) of over-the-counter enteric-coated aspirin (EC-ASA) in healthy adults treated for one month. The randomized, double-blind study highlighted that the majority of patients taking over-the-counter EC-ASA experienced significant gastroduodenal damage. The data were presented at the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) 2009 Annual Scientific Meeting today in San Diego, CA. ACG presented the study with a Presidential Award for winning science.

“These findings are encouraging for the millions of people who require analgesic doses of aspirin but are at risk for upper GI damage as a result of this treatment,” said Dr. John Fort, Chief Medical Officer. “More than five billion units of aspirin in all of its forms are sold in the U.S. each year. Upper GI toxicity is a common complication of aspirin therapy. Even modified-release aspirin formulations do not significantly lower the risk of GI events.”