Adjunct therapy of Saccharomyces boulardii (S. boulardii) along with Vonoprazan-amoxicillin dual therapy offers new hope for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infected patients.

H. pylori is one of the main culprits behind peptic ulcers and even gastric cancer. Growing antibiotic resistance and concerns about gut microbiota, compliance and side effects have instigated the development of a dual therapy for H. pylori.

The study by Yu et al. published in the ‘World Journal of Gastroenterology’ introduced the novel pairing of Vonoprazan-amoxicillin plus S. boulardii rescue therapy against H. pylori. As found, the overall eradication rate of H. pylori reached an outstanding 92.6% with the new regimen. Of particular interest, its efficacy in patients with triple-resistant strains boasted a remarkable 92.9% eradication rate. 

Vonoprazan is known for its potent and enduring acid-suppressing effects, which is hardly affected by meal times. Unlike traditional proton pump inhibitors, Vonoprazan competes with potassium ions to inhibit acid secretion, offering a unique mechanism of action. The addition of S. boulardii helps to fortify the gut barrier, further enhancing the eradication rates of H. pylori. 

Optimizing the dosage and formulation of S. boulardii remains an area for further investigation, as does the necessity for large-scale randomized controlled trials to confirm these promising findings, mentioned Valerie Dirjayanto.