Nevada Patent of the Month – October 2021
Nearly 25% of the Western population experiences various symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) on a weekly basis. GERD occurs when stomach acid frequently flows back into the tube connecting your mouth and stomach (esophagus). This backwash (acid reflux) can irritate the lining of your esophagus. Still others experience other types of acid reflux, including laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR). When stomach acid accumulates in the throat – or anywhere other than the stomach – it can lead to long-term irritation and damage. Chronic exposure can lead to the erosion of the esophagus lining.
Pharagen, LLC has developed a formulation meant to treat acid reflux, quelling the symptoms and preventing the long term effects. At this point, there are no pharmacologically approved medications for the treatment of LPR, instead all focus has been on GERD. Pharagen’s formulation uses alginate salts and calcium carbonate. Through testing of this formulation, they have seen that alginate-containing compositions can successfully treat and prevent acid reflux. When the alginate comes into contact with gastric acid, a mechanical foam barrier is formed, physically preventing any refluxing acid from ascending into the esophagus, larynx, or pharynx. The calcium carbonate reacts with the gastric acid to produce carbon dioxide which helps to lift the foamy raft to the top of the stomach. The treatment can be taken orally either as a capsule or a dry powder and provides hours of relief for the patient. It works effectively for any cause of acid reflux, which means those who suffer from LPR can get the same relief as those with GERD.
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