Accra, Nov. 13, GNA- AstraZeneca Ghana, a leading global pharmaceutical company, has launched a drug known as "Nexium IV" for the management of Peptic Ulcer Bleeding (PUB).

Dr. William Ofori, Country Director, AstraZeneca Ghana, said Nexium 40mg iv was used for the prevention of rebleeding in patients following therapeutic endoscopy for acute bleeding gastric and duodenial ulcers and long term management of patients with healed esophagitis to prevent relapse. Professor Rudolf Darko, a consultant surgeon and former head of Department of Surgery Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KATH), who chaired the function, described Peptic Ulcer Bleed,that is bleeding in the Upper part of the Gastrointestinal Tract (GIT), as a major medical challenge associated with high mortality.

He said PUB accounts for over 10,000 to 20,000 death each year in the U.S. alone, which trend was not too different across the world. Dr. Mary Afihene, a senior physician specialist at the Department of Medicine, KATH, said in Ghana, untreated Peptic ulcer, prolonged inappropriate use of pain medications, steroids, trauma among others were major causes of bleeding in the GIT. 13 Nov.10