Vol. 7, Issue 5, Part A (2025)

Gastric ulcers are a common gastrointestinal condition often treated with proton pump inhibitors like Esomeprazole Magnesium. However, stability issues in the gastric environment necessitate advanced drug delivery systems. This study focuses on developing an enteric-coated tablet of Esomeprazole Magnesium using ethyl cellulose as the coating polymer, aiming to enhance gastric stability and therapeutic efficacy. The formulation was prepared using the wet granulation method and evaluated against a marketed formulation. FT-IR spectroscopy confirmed the absence of drug-excipient interactions. Physical parameters of the tablets were within pharmacopeial limits. In vitro drug release studies demonstrated a sustained release from the laboratory formulation compared to the marketed product. The area under the curve (AUC) and similarity factor (f₂ = 53.53) were calculated to assess bioavailability. Drug release followed Peppas-Korsmeyer kinetics (R² = 0.9664), indicating diffusion and erosion mechanisms. Results suggest that the formulated enteric-coated Esomeprazole tablet is a viable alternative to commercial products, offering comparable release characteristics and improved formulation stability.