STUDY IN AMERICAN JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY SHOWS TAP PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS' LANSOPRAZOLE RELIEVES HEARTBURN FASTER THAN OMEPRAZOLE IN PATIENTS WITH EROSIVE ESOPHAGITIS

LAKE FOREST, Ill., Dec. 14, 2001 - The proton pump inhibitor (PPI) lansoprazole was shown to provide faster relief of heartburn in patients with erosive esophagitis, compared with omeprazole, according to a large study published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology.

The study, which examined more than 3,500 patients, confirmed that lansoprazole delivers heartburn relief more rapidly than omeprazole on day one, through day three and for the first week of treatment (p<0.0001). In addition, the severity of the heartburn was significantly less among those treated with lansoprazole, compared with omeprazole in this group. Results showed that approximately 30 percent more patients were free from daytime and nighttime heartburn following one dose of lansoprazole, compared with one dose of omeprazole.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is an often-chronic disorder that may result in serious complications such as esophageal strictures and Barretts esophagus. Heartburn is one of the most common symptoms of GERD and approximately 25 million Americans suffer from heartburn daily.

"This study shows that lansoprazole offers patients with erosive esophagitis a fast treatment for heartburn relief," said Joel Richter, M.D., chairman of the Department of Gastroenterology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Ohio, and lead investigator of the study. "The results of this study should be considered when prescribing treatments for GERD."

About the Study

The study was a large, randomized, double-blind, eight-week, multi-center trial. It included 3,510 patients with erosive esophagitis who experienced at least one episode of moderate to very severe daytime and/or nighttime heartburn during the three days immediately prior to the screening visit.

Patients recorded the presence and severity of daytime and nighttime heartburn in daily diaries. The primary efficacy parameters were the percentage of heartburn-free days and heartburn-free nights and the average severity of daytime and nighttime heartburn on day one through day three. During the first day of treatment, 33 percent of lansoprazole patients were heartburn-free compared with 25 percent of omeprazole patients (p<0.0001).

Treatment of erosive esophagitis with lansoprazole 30 mg QD (once daily) requires up to eight weeks of therapy. This study did not evaluate the healing of patients with erosive esophagitis. The most frequently reported adverse events were diarrhea, headache and abdominal pain in this study. Faster relief of heartburn does not refer to treatment of acute episodes.

The Promise of Relief

PPIs are considered very effective in relieving GERD symptoms and healing injured tissue. Lansoprazole, also known as PREVACID®, is a leading PPI that decreases the production of stomach acid by blocking the tiny pumps responsible for acid secretion and is up to 95 percent effective in the healing of erosive GERD. Individual results may vary.

The study confirmed that PREVACID, developed by TAP Pharmaceutical Products Inc., delivers faster heartburn relief than its competitor omeprazole. In addition to the results of this study, further underscoring its ongoing commitment to patients and confidence in PREVACID's ability to treat GERD, TAP recently introduced the PREVACID PROMISE. The PREVACID PROMISE is a patient satisfaction program that offers a money-back guarantee to patients using PREVACID; those not satisfied with results at the end of the treatment period can get their money back. The PREVACID PROMISE is the first-ever program of its kind for a proton pump inhibitor.

Patients interested in enrolling in the PREVACID PROMISE should consult their physician.

About PREVACID® (lansoprazole)

PREVACID is currently the most-prescribed PPI for new prescriptions, and in 2000, was the third best-selling prescription medication in the United States. It is the only PPI indicated for the healing and risk reduction of gastric (stomach) ulcers associated with NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).

PREVACID has the most administration options and the most approved indications of any PPI, including: the treatment of heartburn and other symptoms of GERD; the treatment and maintenance of erosive esophagitis, a condition in which stomach acid injures the lining of the esophagus; treatment of active benign gastric (stomach) ulcers; the treatment and maintenance of healed duodenal ulcers found in the first part of the small intestine; treatment of pathological hypersecretory conditions (which involve the overproduction of stomach acid), including Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome; the healing and risk reduction of gastric ulcers associated with NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).

Symptomatic response to therapy does not preclude the presence of gastric malignancy. PREVACID is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to any component of the formulation. The most frequently reported adverse events include diarrhea, abdominal pain, and nausea. For further information on PREVACID, please see the complete prescribing information and visit www.prevacid.com.

About TAP Pharmaceutical Products Inc.

TAP Pharmaceutical Products Inc., located in Lake Forest, Ill., is a joint venture between Abbott Laboratories, headquartered in Abbott Park, Ill., and Takeda Chemical Industries, Ltd., of Osaka, Japan. TAP also markets Lupron Depot® (leuprolide acetate for depot suspension) and plans to launch the new cephalosporin antibiotic SPECTRACEF^TM (cefditoren pivoxil) this month. For more information about TAP Pharmaceutical Products Inc., and its products, visit the company's Web site at www.tap.com.