Patent ID: 8173158

Claim:
A method of treating heartburn, acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease in a patient in need of treatment thereof, the method comprising the steps of: a) obtaining a pharmaceutical composition comprising dexlansoprazole from a group of pharmaceutical compositions comprising proton pump inhibitors; and b) administering to a patient suffering from heartburn, acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux, regardless of whether the patient is under fasted or fed conditions, a therapeutically effective amount of the pharmaceutical composition obtained in step a), wherein the pharmaceutical composition comprises: (i) a first solid particle, wherein said first solid particle comprises dexlansoprazole and a first enteric coating, wherein the first enteric coating releases the proton pump inhibitor from the solid particle at a pH of about 5.0 to about 5.5; and (ii) a second solid particle, wherein said second solid particle comprises dexlansoprazole and a second enteric coating, wherein the second enteric coating releases the proton pump inhibitor from the solid particle at a pH of about 6.2 to about 6.8; wherein the first solid particle comprises from about 15% to about 50% by weight of the pharmaceutical composition and the second solid particle comprises from about 50% to about 85% by weight of the pharmaceutical composition.