A2859C Pharmacotherapeutics I Graded Assignment Brief 2026

1. This individual graded assignment will constitute 60% of the overall module marks.

2. Graded assignment is to be submitted via SA 3.0 by 12 January 2026, 2359hrs.

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A2859C Assignment

Section A (30 marks)

Attempt the 3 quizzes (10 questions each). You will be given 15 minutes for each attempt and only 2 attempts for each quiz. The higher score will be taken for grade calculation.

Section B (24 marks)

Attempt the case study questions below and submit this document with your answers on SA 3.0 submission folder. Your submission should be within 500 words. Content that exceeds this limit will not be considered.

Questions

Question 1

Review the VOCINTI® (Vonoprazan) package insert in the Appendix and answer the questions below. Together with each answer, indicate the specific section of the package insert where you found your information (e.g., “This information is from the Dosage and Administration section”).

(a) State the dosage form of VOCINTI®. (2 marks)

(b) Comment how VOCINTI® should be taken in relation to meals e.g. before meals. (2 marks)

(c) Comment if VOCINTI® is safe to be consumed by pregnant women. (2 marks)

(d) Comment if VOCINTI® is safe to be consumed by a 12-year-old child. (2 marks)

(e) Comment if VOCINTI® needs to be kept in the fridge. (2 marks)

Question 2

Mdm. Lim, a 66-year-old lady, presents at the pharmacy with a low-grade fever and blocked nose for 3 days. She is getting better but requests for a single medication that can help with both symptoms.

(a) Suggest an appropriate product that can be bought locally over the counter, listing the

(i) Brand name. (1 mark)
(ii) Active ingredients and its respective indication. (2 marks)

(b) Lim asks for antibiotics because she remembers they helped her before. Discuss if antibiotics are appropriate in this scenario. (3 marks)

Question 3

Mr. See, a 42-year-old gentleman, approaches the pharmacy looking for Pacofen® after hearing good reviews from a friend.

You are the pharmacy technician on duty. Discuss all the factors you would consider before making a recommendation. (8 marks)

End of Assignment

PRESCRIBING INFORMATION

1. NAME OF THE MEDICINAL PRODUCT

VOCINTI Film-coated Tablet 10mg

VOCINTI Film-coated Tablet 20mg

2. QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE COMPOSITION

Each film-coated tablet contains 10 mg or 20 mg of vonoprazan (as 13.36 mg or 26.72 mg vonoprazan fumarate respectively)

For excipients, see section 6.1.

3. PHARMACEUTICAL FORM

Dosage Form: 

4. CLINICAL PARTICULARS

 4.1 Therapeutic Indications  Treatment of gastric ulcer (GU)

Treatment of duodenal ulcer (DU)

Treatment of reflux esophagitis (RE) (erosive esophagitis EE)

Maintenance treatment of reflux esophagitis (erosive esophagitis)

Prevention of recurrence of gastric ulcer or duodenal ulcer during NSAIDs administration. Adjunct to Helicobacter pylori eradication

4.2 Posology and Method of Administration 

Posology Adults

Gastric ulcer

The recommended dose is 20 mg of vonoprazan once a day. Administration should be limited to 8 weeks.

Duodenal ulcer

The recommended dose is 20 mg of vonoprazan once a day. Administration should be limited to 6 weeks.

Reflux esophagitis (erosive esophagitis)

The recommended dose is 20 mg of vonoprazan once a day. Administration should be limited to 4 weeks. However, when the effect is insufficient, treatment may be continued for up to 8 weeks. In addition, for the maintenance of healing of reflux esophagitis in patients with repeat recurrence and relapse of the condition, a dose of 10 mg is administered once a day; however, when the efficacy is inadequate, a dose of 20 mg may be administered once a

day.

Prevention of recurrence of gastric ulcer or duodenal ulcer during NSAIDs administration

The recommended dose is 10 mg of vonoprazan once a day.

Adjunct to Helicobacter pylori eradication

When selecting antibacterial agents to be used in combination therapy, consideration should be given to official national, regional and local guidance regarding bacterial resistance, duration of treatment and appropriate use of the antibacterial agents.

In a Phase III clinical study, the following 3 drugs were orally administered at the same time twice daily for 7 days: 20 mg vonoprazan, with amoxicillin and clarithromycin. When Helicobacter pylori eradication treatment with 3 drugs consisting of a proton pump inhibitor, amoxicillin, and clarithromycin fails, alternative treatment with the following 3 drugs is recommended; 20 mg vonoprazan, with amoxicillin and metronidazole, orally administered at the same time twice daily for 7 days. The doses of antibiotic should follow the respective label recommendations for H pylori eradication.

Method of Administration

Vonoprazan can be taken without regard to food or timing of food.

Special Patient Populations

Elderly Patients

Since the physiological functions such as hepatic or renal function are decreased in elderly patients in general, vonoprazan should be carefully administered. (See Impaired Renal Function and Impaired Hepatic Function sections below.)

Pediatric Patients

Vonoprazan is not indicated for use in pediatric patients. Safety and efficacy in patients under 18 years of age has not been established.

Impaired Renal Function

Vonoprazan should be administered with care in patients with renal disorders as a delay in the excretion of vonoprazan may occur, which may result in an increase in the concentration of vonoprazan in the blood. (See Section 5.2)

 Impaired Hepatic Function

Vonoprazan should be administered with care in patients with hepatic disorders as a delay in the metabolism and excretion of vonoprazan may occur, which may result in an increase in the concentration of vonoprazan in the blood. (See Section 5.2)

 4.3  Contraindications

Hypersensitivity to the active ingredients or to any of the excipients.

4.4 Special Warnings and Special Precautions for Use  Hepatotoxicity

Hepatic function abnormalities including liver injury have been reported in clinical studies (see Section 4.8). Post marketing reports have also been received in patients treated with vonoprazan, many of which occurred shortly after initiation of treatment. Discontinuation of vonoprazan is recommended in patients who have evidence of liver function abnormalities or if they develop signs or symptoms suggestive of liver dysfunction.

Elevation of intragastric pH

Administration of vonoprazan results in elevation of intragastric pH and is therefore not recommended to be taken with drugs for which absorption is dependent on acidic intragastric pH. (See Section 4.5).

Masking of Symptoms Associated with Gastric Malignancy

Gastric malignancy may present with symptoms associated with acid-related disorders which initially respond to drugs that elevate intragastric pH.

A symptomatic response to vonoprazan does not exclude the presence of gastric malignancy.

Clostridium difficile, Serious colitis, including pseudomembranous colitis

There is an increased risk of gastrointestinal infection caused by Clostridium difficile as was reported in patients that received proton pump inhibitors.

Drugs that elevate intragastric pH may be associated with an increased risk of Clostridium difficile gastrointestinal infection.

Serious colitis accompanied with bloody stools, such as pseudomembranous colitis, may occur due to amoxicillin or clarithromycin being used for Helicobacter pylori eradication, in combination with vonoprazan. If abdominal pain and frequent diarrhea occur, appropriate measures, such as immediate discontinuation of the treatment, should be taken.

Benign gastric polyps

Benign gastric polyp has been observed in patient on long-term administration of PPIs.

Fractures

An increased risk for osteoporosis-related fractures of the hip, wrist or spine, predominantly in the elderly or in presence of other recognized risk factors, has been reported in patients under treatment with proton pump inhibitors. The risk of fracture was especially increased in the patients receiving high dose or long term (a year or longer) treatment.

Interference with Laboratory Tests

Increased Chromogranin A (CgA) level may interfere with investigations for neuroendocrine tumors. To avoid this interference, vonoprazan treatment should be stopped 4-weeks before CgA measurements.

Hypomagnesemia

Severe hypomagnesaemia has been reported in patients on prolonged treatment with PPIs for at least three months and in most cases for a year.

4.5 Interaction with Other Medications and Other Forms of Interaction

Administration of vonoprazan results in elevation of intragastric pH, suggesting that it may interfere with the absorption of drugs where gastric pH is an important determinant of oral bioavailability. Use of vonoprazan is therefore not recommended with some of these drugs for which absorption is dependent on acidic intragastric pH such as atazanavir and nelfinavir, due to significant reduction in their bioavailability.

Vonoprazan is metabolized mainly by hepatic drug-metabolizing enzyme CYP3A4 and partially by CYP2B6, CYP2C19 and CYP2D6.

With strong CYP3A4 inhibitors, e.g., clarithromycin, blood concentration of vonoprazan may increase. It has been reported that blood concentration of vonoprazan increased in concomitant use with clarithromycin by 1.5-fold, but no dose adjustment of vonoprazan is considered necessary.

Coadministration of vonoprazan with the antibiotic regimen clarithromycin and amoxicillin increased concentrations of vonoprazan by up to 1.9-fold. No increase was observed with the antibiotic regimen of metronidazole and amoxicillin. No dose adjustment of vonoprazan is considered necessary.

Co-administration of midazolam (a sensitive CYP3A4 substrate) with multiple doses of vonoprazan increased concentration of midazolam by 1.9-fold in healthy subjects. Caution is advised when vonoprazan is co-administered with other sensitive CYP3A4 substrates, notably those having a narrow therapeutic index.

Model-Informed Effect of CYP3A Inducers on Vonoprazan: Vonoprazan is a CYP3A substrate. The effects of a strong or moderate CYP3A4 inducer on the exposure of orally administered vonoprazan were evaluated using simulations with a Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model. Vonoprazan exposures are predicted to be 80% lower when co-administered with a strong CYP3A4 inducer such as rifampicin and 50% lower when co-administered with a moderate CYP3A4 inducer such as efavirenz. Avoid concomitant use of strong or moderate CYP3A inducers with vonoprazan.

There were no clinically significant effects of NSAIDs on the pharmacokinetics of vonoprazan, and no clinically significant effects of vonoprazan on the pharmacokinetics of NSAIDs.

4.6  Pregnancy and Lactation 

Pregnancy

No clinical studies have been conducted to date to evaluate vonoprazan in subjects who are pregnant. In a rat toxicology study, embryo-foetal toxicity was observed following exposure of more than approximately 28 times of the exposure (AUC) at the maximum clinical dose (40 mg/day) of vonoprazan.

As a precaution, vonoprazan should not be administered to women who are or may be pregnant, unless the expected therapeutic benefit is thought to outweigh any possible risk.

Lactation

Clinical study data indicate that vonoprazan is present in human breast milk in very low amounts. There are no data on the effects of vonoprazan on the breastfed child or the effects on milk production. The developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother’s clinical need for vonoprazan and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed child from vonoprazan or from the underlying maternal condition.

4.7 Effects on Ability to Drive and Use Machines

The influence of vonoprazan on the ability to drive or use machines is unknown.

4.8  Undesirable Effects

The following convention is used for the classification of the frequency of an adverse drug reaction (ADR) and is based on the Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences (CIOMS) guidelines: very common (≥ 1/10); common (≥ 1/100 to < 1/10); uncommon (≥ 1/1,000 to < 1/100); rare (≥ 1/10,000 to< 1/1,000); very rare (< 1/10,000).

Clinical Trials

Clinical trial data for expected adverse events is based on pooled safety analysis from studies: EE healing (CCT-001 and CCT-002), EE maintenance therapy (CCT-003 and OCT001), GU healing (CCT-101), DU healing (CCT-102), prevention of recurrence of peptic ulcer associated with NSAID use (CCT-301, OCT- 301 and OCT-303).

Table 1. Adverse reactions with vonoprazan in clinical studies

Postmarketing

Following is a list of ADRs which have been observed in postmarketing setting (Frequency unknown) and are not included above:

Table 2. Adverse reactions with vonoprazan in post-marketing setting (Frequency Unknown)

4.9 Overdose

There is no experience of overdose with vonoprazan.

Vonoprazan is not removed from the circulation by hemodialysis. If overdose occurs, treatment should be symptomatic and supportive.

4.10 Drug Abuse and Dependence

Vonoprazan has no known potential for abuse or dependence.

5. PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES

Pharmacotherapeutic group: Proton Pump Inhibitor

ATC code: A02BC08

5.1  Pharmacodynamic Properties 

Mechanism of Action

Vonoprazan is a potassium competitive acid blocker (PCAB) and inhibits H+, K+-ATPase in a reversible and potassium-competitive manner. It does not require activation by acid.

Vonoprazan is a strong base with a high affinity for the acid pump of gastric cells inhibiting gastric acid production.

Clinical Studies

The efficacy of vonoprazan has been demonstrated in a number of clinical studies across several indications including GU, DU, RE, prevention of GU/DU during NSAID administration and as an adjunct to H. pylori eradication (see Section 4.1). Clinical efficacy in completed phase 2 and 3 studies is summarized in Table 3. These data are divided into the categories based upon the specific indication, including GU, DU, RE, prevention of recurrence of gastric or duodenal ulcer during NSAID administration, and H. pylori eradication.

Following administration of vonoprazan at a dose of 10 mg or 20 mg in healthy adult male subjects for 7 days, pH 4 HTR (pH 4 holding time ratio) (percentage of time PH is maintained at a level ≥ 4 in 24 hours) was 63±9% and 83±17% respectively.

A phase 1 open-label pharmacodynamics study to investigate the acid-inhibitory effect of vonoprazan 20 mg compared with esomeprazole 20 mg or rabeprazole sodium 10 mg in healthy adult male Japanese subjects showed that the acid-inhibitory effect of vonoprazan was greater than that of esomeprazole or rabeprazole. After all treatments, the mean 24hour pH 4 HTRs increased from Baseline to Day 1 and from Day 1 to Day 7. The mean pH 4 HTRs were higher after administration of vonoprazan on Day 1 than after administration of esomeprazole or rabeprazole on Day 7. The mean 24-hour pH 4 HTRs for vonoprazan and rabeprazole at Baseline were both 8.9%, and on Day 1 and on Day 7 were 84.16% vs 26.29%, and 93.79% vs 65.09%, respectively.

Table 3. Overview of Clinical Efficacy of vonoprazan (TAK-438) and Comparators in Completed Phase 2 and 3 Studies

N/A=not assessed, PPS=per protocol set, FAS= full analysis set.  EE = Erosive Esophagitis = Reflux Esophagitis (RE).

5.2 Pharmacokinetic Properties

Following 7 day repeat once daily doses of vonoprazan at doses of 10-40 mg, in healthy adult male subjects, AUCτ,ss and Cmax increase in a slightly greater than dose proportional manner. Steady state has been reached by day 3 of administration, since the trough level of the blood concentration of vonoprazan is constant between day 3 and day 7 of administration.

In addition, vonoprazan does not exhibit time-dependent pharmacokinetics. The following table shows pharmacokinetic parameters of vonoprazan on day 7 of administration.

Absorption

Absolute bioavailability has not been determined. The pharmacokinetic parameters of vonoprazan following single administration of vonoprazan to healthy adult male subjects at 20 mg under fasting and fed conditions are presented in the table below.

Mean±S.D. of 12 subjects (tmax is expressed by the median (minimum value, maximum value))

Distribution

The mean binding rate is 85.2 to 88.0% when [14C] vonoprazan in the range of 0.1 to 10 g/mL is added to human plasma (in vitro).

Metabolism

Vonoprazan is metabolized mainly by hepatic drug-metabolizing enzyme CYP3A4 and partially by CYP2B6, CYP2C19 and CYP2D6. Vonoprazan is also metabolized by sulfotransterase SULT2A1 (in vitro). Vonoprazan exhibits time-dependent inhibitory effect on CYP2B6, CYP2C19 and CYP3A4/5 (in vitro). In addition, vonoprazan shows a slight concentration-dependent inductive effect on CYP1A2, but it shows little inductive effect on CYP2B6 and CYP3A4/5 (in vitro).

Excretion and Elimination

When radioactive-labeled drug (15 mg as vonoprazan) is orally administered to nonJapanese healthy adult male subjects, 98.5% of the radioactivity administered is excreted into urine and feces by 168 hours after administration: 67.4% into urine and 31.1% into feces.

Special Populations Impaired Renal Function

The effect of renal disorders on pharmacokinetics of vonoprazan in subjects with normal renal function, patients with mild, moderate, and severe renal disorder and patients with endstage renal disease (ESRD) when administered the drug as a single dose of vonoprazan 20 mg shows that AUC∞ and Cmax were higher by 1.3 to 2.4 times and 1.2 to 1.8 times, respectively, in patients with mild, moderate, and severe renal disorder compared to subjects with normal renal function, showing an increase in vonoprazan exposure with a reduction in renal function. AUC∞ and Cmax were higher by 1.3 times and 1.2 times, respectively, in ESRD patients compared to those in subjects with normal renal function.

 Impaired Hepatic Function

The effect of hepatic disorders on pharmacokinetics of vonoprazan was evaluated in subjects with normal hepatic function and patients with mild, moderate and severe hepatic disorder. When administered as a single dose of vonoprazan 20 mg shows that AUC∞ and Cmax were higher by 1.2 to 2.6 times and 1.2 to 1.8 times, respectively, in patients with mild, moderate and severe hepatic disorder, compared to subjects with normal hepatic function.

 Age, Gender, Race

Vonoprazan is not indicated for use in pediatric patients. Safety and efficacy in patients under 18 years of age has not been established. There are no clinically relevant gender effects of vonoprazan.

No dedicated ethnic comparison studies have been conducted with vonoprazan.

The ethnic sensitivity analysis based on the International Conference for Harmonization (ICH) E5 principles was conducted to assess whether the molecular properties of vonoprazan were sensitive to ethnic factor differences, and whether the diagnosis, medical practice, treatment options, and other epidemiological factors for acid-related disorders would vary dramatically in areas other than Japan. It was concluded that vonoprazan is insensitive to ethnic factor differences.

Drug Interactions

Vonoprazan and clarithromycin

Healthy adult male subjects were administered with a single dose of vonoprazan (40 mg), 30 minutes after breakfast on day 1 and day 8, and with repeated dose of clarithromycin 500 mg (potency) 2 times daily 30 minutes before breakfast and dinner on day 3 – 9. The AUC∞ and Cmax of vonoprazan increased by 1.6 times and 1.4 times, respectively, when concomitantly administered with clarithromycin compared to those of vonoprazan when administered alone.

Vonoprazan, amoxicillin and clarithromycin

The drug interaction study in healthy adult male subjects administered twice daily with vonoprazan 20 mg, amoxicillin 750 mg (potency) and clarithromycin 400 mg (potency) concomitantly for 7 days shows no effect on pharmacokinetics of unchanged amoxicillin, however, AUC₁₂ and C_max of vonoprazan increased by 1.8 times and 1.9 times, respectively, and AUC₁₂ and C_max of unchanged clarithromycin increased by 1.5 times and 1.6 times, respectively.

Vonoprazan, amoxicillin and metronidazole

The drug interaction study in healthy adult male subjects administered twice daily with vonoprazan 20 mg, amoxicillin 750 mg (potency) and metronidazole 250 mg concomitantly for 7 days showed little difference in the pharmacokinetics of vonoprazan, when administered alone or as triple therapy. No difference was observed in the pharmacokinetics of metronidazole or amoxicillin when administered alone or as triple therapy.

Vonoprazan and NSAIDs

The drug interaction study in healthy adult male subjects administered with vonoprazan 40 mg and NSAID (loxoprofen sodium 60 mg, diclofenec sodium 25 mg or meloxicam 10 mg) concomitantly showed no clear effect of NSAIDs on pharmacokinetics of vonoprazan and of vonoprazan on pharmacokinetics of NSAIDs.

Vonoprazan and Midazolam

The drug interaction study in 20 healthy adult male and female subjects administered single oral doses of 2 mg of midazolam syrup on Days 1 and 9 and oral doses of vonoprazan 20 mg twice-daily on Days 2 through 10 showed that steady-state plasma midazolam Cmax and AUC∞ values were 93% and 89% higher, respectively, than when midazolam was administered alone.

Likewise, steady-state plasma 1-hydroxymidazolam (main and active midazolam metabolite mediated by CYP3A4) Cmax and AUC∞ values were 25-37% higher than when midazolam was administered alone.

 5.3  Nonclinical Safety Data 

Carcinogenesis

Vonoprazan was non-carcinogenic in a long term carcinogenicity study in mice administered the drug daily via oral gavage for up to 2 years at 6, 20, 60, and 200 mg/kg/day. Treatmentrelated tumors, related to exaggerated pharmacology or sepsis-specificity, were noted in the stomach and liver. In the stomach, benign and malignant neuroendocrine cell tumors were observed at ≥20 (males) and ≥60 (females) mg/kg/day and ≥6 (males) and ≥60 (females) mg/kg/day, respectively. In the liver, increased incidences of hepatocellular adenoma and carcinoma were observed at ≥20 (males) and ≥60 (females) mg/kg/day, and at ≥60 (males) and 200 (females) mg/kg/day, respectively. Hyperplasia of the neuroendocrine cells and associated tumors in the stomach may be due to hypergastrinemia as a consequence of inhibiting gastric acid secretion. The hepatocellular tumors are likely rodent-specific findings that are attributed to prolonged induction of hepatic drug-metabolizing enzymes. The NOAEL was <6 mg/kg/day.

Vonoprazan was non-carcinogenic in a long term carcinogenicity study in rats administered the drug via oral gavage at 5, 15, 50, and 150 mg/kg/day. Treatment-related tumors, related to exaggerated pharmacology or species-specificity, were noted in the stomach and liver. In the stomach, benign and malignant neuroendocrine cell tumors were observed at ≥5 mg/kg/day except for malignant neuroendocrine tumor at 50 mg/kg/day (males). In some instances in benign and malignant neuroendocrine cell tumors, tumor cells showed eosinophilic change but these tumors were also judged to be of neuroendocrine cell origin. In the liver, increased incidences of hepatocellular adenoma and carcinoma were observed at ≥50 mg/kg/day except for hepatocellular carcinoma at 50 mg/kg/day (females). Tumor findings in the stomach and liver are believed to be due to hypergastrinemia as a consequence of inhibiting gastric acid secretion and rodent-specific induction of hepatic drug- metabolizing enzymes, respectively. The occurrence of 4 hepatocholangiocellular tumors at ≥50 mg/ kg/day (males) were considered to be treatment-related because they were considered to be associated with induction of hepatocellular tumor, but pairwise comparison did not demonstrate a statistically significant effect.

Mutageneses

Vonoprazan did not exhibit any mutagenic or clastogenic activity in the in vitro Ames assay, in vitro mammalian chromosome aberration assay, and in vivo rat micronucleus assay.

Reproductive Toxicology When administered daily via oral gavage to male and females rats, males were administered vonoprazan prior to and during mating and females dosed for 2 weeks pre-mating through Gestation Day (GD) 6, there were no effects on sperm analysis, estrous cycles or number of corpora lutea observed at doses up to 300 mg/kg/dose. The NOAEL for male and female general toxicity was 30 mg/kg/day and ≥300 mg/kg/day for reproductive function and early embryonic development.

6. PHARMACEUTICAL PARTICULARS

6.1 List of Excipients

D-Mannitol, Microcrystalline cellulose, Hydroxypropylcellulose, Fumaric acid,

Croscarmellose sodium, Magnesium stearate, Hypromellose, Macrogol 6000*, Titanium oxide, Red ferric oxide (20 mg tablet only), Yellow ferric oxide (10 mg tablet only).

*Macrogol 6000 is a name in the Japanese Pharmacopoeia. Its average molecular mass is approximately 8300. Therefore it is different from Macrogol 6000 in European

Pharmacopoeia (Ph.Eur.) or Polyethylene Glycol 6000 in US National Formulary (NF) whose average molecular mass is 6000 and it is equivalent to Macrogol 8000 in Ph. Eur. and Polyethylene Glycol 8000 in NF.

6.2 Incompatibilities

Not applicable

6.3 Special Precautions for Storage

Store at or below 30°C

6.4 Nature and Contents of Container Blister (Unit dose package):  Polyvinylchloride (PVC) film/Aluminum foil

6.5 Instructions for Use/Handling

No special requirements

7. PRODUCT OWNER

Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Osaka, Japan

8. DATE OF REVISION