Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:
* Adults aged 18 to 60 years at the time of providing written informed consent
* Male or female participants
* History of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms, including heartburn and/or acid regurgitation
* GERD symptoms confirmed by:
* GERD-Q score greater than 7, and
* Heartburn and/or acid regurgitation occurring on more than 3 days within the last 7 days
* Able to understand the study procedures and complete questionnaires and a daily symptom diary
* Willing and able to provide written informed consent
Exclusion Criteria:
Gastrointestinal conditions:
* Diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis), primary esophageal motility disorders, or pancreatitis
* History of gastric or esophageal surgery affecting acid secretion (except appendectomy, cholecystectomy, or endoscopic polypectomy of benign polyps)
* Alarm symptoms suggestive of gastrointestinal malignancy (e.g., severe dysphagia, odynophagia, gastrointestinal bleeding, anemia, unexplained weight loss), unless malignancy was ruled out
Medical history
* Clinically significant hepatic, renal, endocrine, hematologic, oncologic, or urinary system disease
* History of malignancy within the past 5 years (except non-digestive malignancies that were completely treated with no recurrence for ≥5 years)
* History of psychosis, substance abuse, or alcohol abuse
* Known HIV infection, active hepatitis B, or hepatitis C infection (HCV RNA-positive)
Medication and treatment
* Use of prohibited concomitant medications within 2 weeks prior to enrollment or need for continuous prohibited medication during the study, including:
* Proton pump inhibitors, potassium-competitive acid blockers, H2-receptor antagonists, or other acid-suppressive agents
* Certain psychotropic drugs, anticholinergic drugs, antispasmodics, systemic steroids, or mucoprotective agents
* Use of another investigational product within 4 weeks prior to study drug administration
Laboratory findings
* Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), or total bilirubin ≥2 times the upper limit of normal
* Serum creatinine or blood urea nitrogen ≥2 times the upper limit of normal
Reproductive status
* Pregnant or breastfeeding women
* Women of childbearing potential or male participants who were unwilling to use appropriate contraception during the study
Other
* Known hypersensitivity to the investigational product or comparator drug
* Any condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, made the participant unsuitable for study participation