Onconic's 'Zaqbo' ODT as Effective as Conventional Tablets, Even Without Water

Study Involving 54 Healthy Adults
Published in International Journal 'PR&P'

It was confirmed that Onconic Therapeutics' orally disintegrating tablet (ODT) formulation of Zaqbo, a treatment for gastroesophageal reflux disease whose active ingredient is zastaprazan citrate, is absorbed by the body to the same extent as the conventional tablet, whether taken with or without water.

Mean changes in blood drug concentration over time after taking Jaqubo orally disintegrating tablets with or without water, compared with conventional tablets. Onconic Therapeutics.

On October 23, Onconic Therapeutics said the Zaqbo ODT met bioequivalence criteria compared with the conventional tablet both when taken with water and when taken without water. The rate of drug absorption and the time to reach peak blood concentration were similar, and the ODT did not cause increased drug exposure in the initial period. The study results were published in the international journal Pharmacology Research & Perspectives (PR&P).

The study randomly assigned 54 healthy adults to take a 20 mg Zaqbo ODT with or without water, and compared the results with those for the conventional tablet. No serious adverse events occurred, and no clinically meaningful safety concerns were identified.

Zaqbo is a potassium-competitive acid blocker (P-CAB) launched in October 2024. The ODT, a formulation that dissolves in the mouth and can be taken without water, was approved by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in 2025 and launched in January 2026.

The company expects the study to provide a basis for healthcare professionals to choose a formulation suited to each patient's circumstances and needs. It said the ODT could make medication easier to take, particularly for older patients with difficulty swallowing and in situations where water is hard to obtain.

The researchers said, "The Zaqbo ODT was confirmed to meet bioequivalence criteria compared with the conventional tablet under both conditions: when taken with water and when taken without water. The findings are significant because an international journal has recognized the scientific evidence on the pharmacokinetic properties and bioequivalence of an already approved ODT."

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