Once Daily Versus Twice Daily Budesonide Orodispersible Tablets for Induction of Remission in EoE

Double-blind, Randomized, Non-inferiority Phase III Trial on the Efficacy and Tolerability of 2 mg Once Daily vs. 1 mg Twice Daily Budesonide Orodispersible Tablets in Adults With Eosinophilic Esophagitis

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.

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.