The safety and effectiveness of dexlansoprazole delayed-release capsules have been established in pediatric patients 12 years to 17 years of age for the healing of all grades of EE, the maintenance of healed EE and relief of heartburn, and treatment of heartburn associated with symptomatic non-erosive GERD. Use of dexlansoprazole delayed-release capsules in this age group is supported by evidence from adequate and well-controlled studies of dexlansoprazole delayed-release capsules in adults with additional safety, efficacy and pharmacokinetic data in pediatric patients 12 to 17 years of age. The adverse reaction profile in patients 12 to 17 years of age was similar to adults [see Dosage and Administration (2.1), Adverse Reactions (6.1), Clinical Pharmacology (12.3), Clinical Studies (14)].

The safety and effectiveness of dexlansoprazole delayed-release capsules have not been established in pediatric patients less than 12 years of age.

Dexlansoprazole is not recommended in pediatric patients less than two years of age [see Warnings and Precautions (5.12)]. Nonclinical studies in juvenile rats treated with lansoprazole (the racemic mixture) have demonstrated adverse effects of heart valve thickening and bone changes at dexlansoprazole exposures which are expected to be similar to or higher than the dexlansoprazole exposure in pediatric patients one year to two years of age, as described below in Juvenile Animal Toxicity Data.

The use of dexlansoprazole is not recommended for the treatment of symptomatic GERD in pediatric patients one month to less than one year of age because lansoprazole was not shown to be effective in a multicenter, double-blind controlled trial.

###  Juvenile Animal Toxicity Data

#### Heart Valve Thickening 

In two oral toxicity studies, thickening of the mitral heart valve occurred in juvenile rats treated with lansoprazole. Heart valve thickening was observed primarily with oral dosing initiated on postnatal Day 7 (age equivalent to neonatal humans) and postnatal Day 14 (human age equivalent of approximately one year) at doses of 250 mg/kg/day and higher (at postnatal Day 7 and postnatal Day 14 respectively, 2.5 and 1.8 times the expected dexlansoprazole exposure based on AUC in pediatric patients one year to two years of age). The treatment durations associated with heart valve thickening ranged from 5 days to 8 weeks. The findings reversed or trended towards reversibility after a 4-week drug-free recovery period. The incidence of heart valve thickening after initiation of dosing on postnatal Day 21 (human age equivalent of approximately two years) was limited to a single rat (1/24) in groups given 500 mg/kg/day for 4 or 8 weeks (2.1 times the expected dexlansoprazole exposure based on AUC in pediatric patients one year to two years of age). Based on the low incidence of heart valve thickening in 21-day old rats and the equivalent human age, the risk of heart valve injury does not appear to be relevant to patients two years of age and older.

#### Bone Changes 

In an eight-week oral toxicity study of lansoprazole in juvenile rats with dosing initiated on postnatal Day 7, doses equal to or greater than 100 mg/kg/day (dexlansoprazole exposure based on AUC approximately equal to that in pediatric patients one year to two years of age) produced delayed growth, with impairment of weight gain observed as early as postnatal Day 10 (age equivalent to neonatal humans). At the end of treatment, the signs of impaired growth at 100 mg/kg/day and higher included reductions in body weight (14 to 44% compared to controls), absolute weight of multiple organs, femur weight, femur length and crown-rump length. Femoral growth plate thickness was reduced only in males and only at the 500 mg/kg/day dose. The effects related to delayed growth persisted through the end of the four-week recovery period. Longer term data were not collected.