Footnotes
Further reading
GeneReviews/NCBI/NIH/UW entry on X-Linked Periventricular Heterotopia
Ferland, Russell J.; Batiz, Luis Federico; Neal, Jason; Lian, Gewei; Bundock, Elizabeth; Lu, Jie; Hsiao, Yi-Chun; Diamond, Rachel; Mei, Davide; Banham, Alison H.; Brown, Philip J.; Vanderburg, Charles R.; Joseph, Jeffrey; Hecht, Jonathan L.; Folkerth, Rebecca; Guerrini, Renzo; Walsh, Christopher A.; Rodriguez, Esteban M.; Sheen, Volney L. (2009). "Disruption of neural progenitors along the ventricular and subventricular zones in periventricular heterotopia". Human Molecular Genetics. 18 (3): 497–516. doi:10.1093/hmg/ddn377. PMC 2722192. PMID 18996916.
The contents swell from water absorption, causing the shell to burst, and releasing the enteric-coated granules. For most patients, the multiple-unit pellet system is of no advantage over conventional enteric-coated preparations. Patients for whom the formulation is of benefit include those requiring nasogastric tube feeding and those with difficulty swallowing (dysphagia). Society and culture
Global distribution
In 2010, AstraZeneca announced a co-promotion agreement with Daiichi Sankyo to distribute Nexium in Japan. In September 2011, Nexium was approved for sale and was launched by Daiichi Sankyo in Japan. Esomeprazole was approved for use in the United States in February 2001. Economics
Between the launch of esomeprazole in 2001 and 2005, the drug netted AstraZeneca about $14.4 billion. Controversy
There has been some controversy about AstraZenecas behaviour in creating, patenting, and marketing the drug. Esomeprazoles successful predecessor, omeprazole, is a mixture of two mirror-imaged molecules (esomeprazole which is the S-enantiomer, and R-omeprazole); critics said the company was trying to "evergreen" its omeprazole patent by patenting the pure esomeprazole and aggressively marketing to doctors that it is more effective than the mixture.Thomas A. Scully, head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), also criticized AstraZeneca for their aggressive marketing of Nexium. At a conference of the American Medical Association (AMA), he said that Astra was using the new drug to overcharge consumers and insurance companies. Brand names
Generic versions of esomeprazole magnesium are available worldwide. It is available over-the-counter under the brand name Nexium in the United States and the UK. Other uses
Esomeprazole can be used as a parasiticide.