Use of dexlansoprazole in patients 12 to 17 years of age is supported by evidence from adequate and well-controlled studies of dexlansoprazole delayed-release capsules in adults, with additional safety, efficacy, and pharmacokinetic data from studies performed in pediatric patients.

###  Healing of EE, Maintenance of Healed EE and Relief of Heartburn

In a multicenter, 36 week trial, 62 patients 12 to 17 years of age with a documented history of GERD for at least three months and endoscopically-proven erosive esophagitis (EE) were enrolled to evaluate the healing of EE, maintenance of healed EE and relief of heartburn, followed by an additional 12 weeks without treatment.

The median age was 15 years, with males accounting for 61% of the patients. Based on the Los Angeles Classification Grading Scale, 97% of patients had mild EE (Grades A and B), and 3% of patients had moderate to severe EE (Grades C and D) before treatment.

In the first eight weeks, 62 patients were treated with dexlansoprazole 60 mg once daily to evaluate the healing of EE. Of the 62 patients, 58 patients completed the eight week trial, and 51 (88%) patients achieved healing of EE, as confirmed by endoscopy, over eight weeks of treatment (see Table 12).

After the initial eight weeks of treatment, all 51 patients with healed EE were randomized to receive treatment with dexlansoprazole 30 mg or placebo, once daily for an additional 16 weeks to evaluate maintenance of healing and symptom resolution. Maintenance of healing was assessed by endoscopy at Week 24. Of the 51 patients randomized, 13 patients discontinued early. Of these, five patients did not undergo postbaseline endoscopy. Eighteen of 22 (82%) evaluable patients treated with dexlansoprazole 30 mg remained healed over the 16 week treatment period as confirmed by endoscopy, compared with 14 of 24 (58%) in placebo (see Table 13).

Relief of heartburn was assessed in randomized patients during the 16 week maintenance period. The median percentage of 24 hour heartburn-free periods was 87% for those receiving dexlansoprazole 30 mg compared to 68% for those receiving placebo.

Out of the 32 patients who maintained healing of EE at the end of the 16 week maintenance period, 27 patients (16 treated with dexlansoprazole and 11 treated with placebo during the double-blind phase) were followed for an additional 12 weeks without therapy. Twenty-four of the 27 patients completed the 12 week follow-up period. One patient required treatment with acid suppression therapy.

###  Treatment of Symptomatic Non-Erosive GERD

In a single-arm, open-label, multicenter trial, 104 pediatric patients 12 to 17 years of age with symptomatic non-erosive GERD were treated with dexlansoprazole 30 mg once daily, for four weeks to evaluate safety and effectiveness. Patients had a documented history of GERD symptoms for at least three months prior to screening, reported heartburn on at least three out of seven days during screening, and had no esophageal erosions as confirmed by endoscopy. The median age was 15 years, with females accounting for 70% of the patients. During the four week treatment period, the median percentage of 24 hour heartburn free periods was 47%.