Fosamprenavir for Laryngopharyngeal Upper Airway Tissue Treatment and Enzyme Reduction

Laryngopharyngeal Reflux (LPR) is a common condition that causes symptoms like chronic cough, throat clearing, hoarseness, and trouble swallowing. If not treated, LPR can lead to long-term throat damage and may increase the risk of throat cancer. More than 20% of the people in the United States are estimated to have LPR, yet there is no effective medication approved to treat it. Drugs called proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are often used to treat LPR, even though they were designed for stomach acid problems. These medications reduce acid but do not stop reflux from happening, so they often do not help LPR patients. Despite poor results, PPIs are widely prescribed, are very costly, and can cause side effects. Research shows that a digestive enzyme called pepsin plays a key role in LPR. Pepsin can damage the throat and voice box even when acid is not present. Laboratory studies found that certain HIV medications can block damage caused by pepsin. People taking these medications for HIV appear to have a much lower rate of LPR. This study will test fosamprenavir, an FDA-approved HIV drug, as a treatment for LPR. We will conduct a 14-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial in patients with LPR who did not improve with standard treatment. Participants will receive either fosamprenavir or placebo, randomly, and symptoms will be measured before and after treatment using standard questionnaires and daily symptom tracking. Because there is no effective medical treatment for LPR. this study aims to test a safe, existing drug that targets the underlying cause of the disease.

NCT Number	NCT04383262
Lead Sponsor	Medical College of Wisconsin
Conditions	Laryngopharyngeal Reflux
Enrollment	104 participants
Start Date	2026-07-15
Primary Completion	2027-07-01 (estimated)
Study Completion	2028-10-01 (estimated)
Updated on ClinicalTrials.gov	2026-07-07