A double blind trial of gefarnate and placebo in the treatment of gastric ulcer.

Forty-five patients with chronic gastric ulcers were treated as out-patients in a double-blind comparison of gefarnate (geranyl farnesylacetate), 50 mg four times daily, with the same number of dummy capsules daily for five weeks. The mean percentage reduction in ulcer size assessed by radiography was 70-4 per cent in the gefarnate patients compared with 27-8 per cent in those receiving placebo capsules. This difference is statistically significant (p less than 0-05, with a two-tailed test). No change in the electrolyte balance occurred in any of the patients and no side-effects were reported. These results suggest that gefarnate promotes the healing of gastric ulcers in ambulant patients. Its apparent absence of side-effects makes it a safe ans useful drug.