Losec (omeprazole)

Losec, known generically as omeprazole, is a pioneering medication in the proton pump inhibitor (PPI) class used to treat acid-related gastrointestinal conditions such as GERD and peptic ulcers.

The brand was originally developed in the late 1970s by AB Hässle, a subsidiary of the Swedish pharmaceutical giant Astra AB (now AstraZeneca). It was a revolutionary drug that changed the treatment landscape for stomach acid conditions. While AstraZeneca remains a key manufacturer and continues to hold rights in specific major markets like the U.S. (where it is famously known as Prilosec), China, Japan, and Mexico, the global rights for the original Losec brand were largely divested to Cheplapharm Arzneimittel GmbH in 2019.

Today, Losec is manufactured in various facilities worldwide to meet global demand, with several primary production lines historically centered in Södertälje, Sweden. Ownership of the brand is now split between AstraZeneca and Cheplapharm depending on the geographic region.