Overview
The purpose of this study is to prove the non-inferiority of a 6-weeks treatment with 1 mg budesonide orodispersible tablets BID versus 2 mg budesonide orodispesible tabletss for the induction of clinico-pathological remission in adult patients with active eosinophilic esophagitis.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- Signed informed consent,
- Male or female patients, 18 to 75 years of age,
- Confirmed clinico-pathological diagnosis of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) according to established diagnostic criteria
- Active symptomatic and histological EoE
- Negative pregnancy test in females of childbearing potential at baseline visit.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Clinical and endoscopic signs of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD),
- Achalasia, scleroderma esophagus, or systemic sclerosis,
- Other clinically evident causes than EoE for esophageal eosinophilia,
- Any concomitant esophageal disease and relevant gastro-intestinal disease (celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, oropharyngeal or esophageal bacterial, viral, or fungal infection [candida esophagitis]),
- Any relevant systemic disease (e.g., AIDS, active tuberculosis, hepatitis B or C),
- If careful medical monitoring is not ensured: cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, osteoporosis, active peptic ulcer disease, glaucoma, cataract, or infection,
- Liver cirrhosis or portal hypertension,
- History of cancer in the last five years,
- History of esophageal surgery at any time or of esophageal dilation procedures within the last 4 weeks prior to screening visit, or need for an immediate endoscopic intervention due to a stricture
- Upper gastrointestinal bleeding within 8 weeks prior to baseline visit,
- Existing or intended pregnancy or breast-feeding.