Prilosec (Omeprazole)

Prilosec, originally known as Losec, is a landmark medication in the treatment of acid-related gastrointestinal conditions. It was first developed by the Swedish pharmaceutical company AB Hässle, a subsidiary of Astra AB (now AstraZeneca). Upon its approval in the late 1980s, it revolutionized the treatment of gastric ulcers and GERD by being the first clinically used proton pump inhibitor (PPI).

The brand has a complex ownership history due to the separation of prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) rights. While AstraZeneca originally held the global rights, the OTC version in the United States (Prilosec OTC) is marketed by Procter & Gamble under a long-standing licensing agreement. More recently, some prescription rights for Prilosec in the U.S. were acquired by Covis Pharma. Manufacturing occurs at multiple specialized pharmaceutical facilities globally, including sites in Sweden, the United States, and other international locations.