A new review of studies looked at a simpler treatment for Helicobacter pylori, a common stomach infection that can lead to ulcers. The treatment, called tegoprazan-amoxicillin (TA) dual therapy, combines two medicines. The review compared it to the standard bismuth-containing quadruple therapy (BQT), which uses four medicines, and to another dual therapy using a proton pump inhibitor.
The review included 1,909 adults with H. pylori. It found that TA dual therapy eradicated the infection about as often as BQT: 78.0% versus 81.4% in one analysis, and 84.6% versus 86.2% in another. These differences were not statistically significant, meaning the treatments worked similarly.
However, TA dual therapy had a clear advantage in side effects. Only 11.3% of people taking TA reported adverse events, compared to 22.5% of those taking BQT. That is about half the risk. Medication adherence was similar between the two groups, around 95%.
The review also found TA dual therapy was comparable to another dual therapy using a proton pump inhibitor. But the evidence for the eradication rate comparison was low-quality, so the results should be interpreted with caution.
Overall, TA dual therapy appears to be a good option that is simpler and easier to tolerate than the standard four-drug regimen. However, eradication rates were still below ideal, so it may not be the best choice for everyone. Talk to your doctor about the best treatment for your situation.
