Therapeutic Intervention to Reverse Gastric Precancer

The proposed study is an early Phase II Clinical Trial designed to generate additional data regarding safety and efficacy for the use of Pyrvinium, an FDA-approved drug no longer in active use. The study design includes enrollment in an observational cohort for a research-focused screening upper endoscopy to document the extent and type of gastric intestinal metaplasia in patients previously diagnosed with this condition using a standardized mapping protocol (as described below). This initial screening research endoscopy is needed as current clinical care is variable (due to lack of guidelines for mapping and surveillance). The investigators anticipate enrolling 60 participants in the observational cohort for intensive gastric mapping, and then of these 60 participants, 32 eligible participants (after determining eligibility based on presence of high-risk features of the gastric intestinal metaplasia with confirmed extensive gastric intestinal metaplasia) will be included in the randomized control trial to receive either Pyrvinium (n=16) or placebo (n=16).

Treatment is planned as followed:

2 weeks of Pyrvinium vs placebo (within 3 months of initial research endoscopy).

Following the initial endoscopy, participants will receive placebo or Pyrvinium (2 mg/kg/day) by mouth once each day for a total of 14 days. The drug (or placebo) will be verified and dispensed from the investigational drug pharmacy using an IND with attention to safety and blinding to research participants and clinical research staff. The drug and placebo will be administered as liquid suspensions. Medication diary logs will be used and participants will be asked to return bottles that contained the medication.

All participants will be advised to use sunblock and wear protective clothing due to potential for sun-sensitivity.