Kenan Thompson knows
GERD IS NO JOKE

GERD. GERD. GERD. GERD.

Trying to find a cool way to say GERD.

GERD.

GERD. GERD.

Hey. I’m Kenan Thompson. Actor, author, comedian...and I have Non-Erosive GERD.

That’s why I’m on the set of my new Kick Some Acid cooking show, playing a chef and partnering with Phathom, a pharmaceutical company.I’m here to spread the word about GERD and a treatment that can also kick some acid by relieving GERD-related heartburn.

It’s called VOQUEZNA, also known as vonoprazan.

Did I do it right? Awesome, Yeah.

When did you first develop Non-Erosive GERD?

I found out I had Non-Erosive GERD about two years ago. It started with the heartburn. You know, the heart? T’was burning. It was affecting me pretty often and I didn’t understand my triggers or really how to treat it.

How has Non-Erosive GERD impacted you?

I would get this, like, horrible burning pain in the middle of my chest. And it would like affect my sleep because it would happen like over and over throughout the night, so then like having an early call time the next morning for work is like not my idea of a good time.

And you know, in my line of work I sing a lot and yell a lot, because you know being loud is funny. I’m just kidding. Heartburn was impacting my voice and making it hoarse sometimes, and I need to maintain my little vocal strength tones or whatever. Yeah, it’s just hard to do comedy when you don’t feel your best, basically.

Do certain foods make your symptoms worse?

Anything acidic is when I would kinda notice it. Like pizza or pasta with like marinara are the first two that come to mind because I love Italian food.

In case you can’t tell, I’m not Italian myself, but man their food... I just love it.

Thankfully, VOQUEZNA helped me to kick some acid so I can get back to focusing on what’s important.

And speaking of things you need to know about GERD and VOQUEZNA, here’s some important stuff we want to tell you.

But you’re also getting some exclusive footage from behind the scenes to go with it. And I’ll be right back after these short messages...

Do not take VOQUEZNA if you:

• are allergic to vonoprazan or any of the other ingredients in VOQUEZNA. Allergic reaction symptoms may include trouble breathing, rash, itching, and swelling of your face, lips, tongue or throat
• are taking a medicine that contains rilpivirine (EDURANT, COMPLERA, JULUCA, ODEFSEY) used to treat HIV-1 (Human Immunodeficiency Virus).

Before taking VOQUEZNA, tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions, including if you:

• have low magnesium, calcium, or potassium in your blood, or you are taking a medicine to increase urine (diuretic).
• have kidney or liver problems.
• are pregnant, think you may be pregnant, or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if VOQUEZNA will harm your unborn baby.
• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if VOQUEZNA passes into your breast milk. You and your healthcare provider should decide if you will take VOQUEZNA or breastfeed. You should not do both.

What have you learned about your condition since talking to your doctor?

When I went in, we talked about all of the different treatments I had tried.

You probably know the ones.

But they weren’t really cutting it anymore. I was like “Doc, this ain’t it!

It ain’ttttt it!”

So, doc and I talked through it and once we understood what was up, we talked about finding the right treatment for me. And that was VOQUEZNA.

Why did you want to play a chef as part of this effort?

When I’m working with a character, I usually run towards the thing that excites me. So, if I’m listening to a bunch of different ideas, the one that amuses me the most is usually the direction I tend to go towards, especially if it’s something I can find inspiration from in my own life.

With the chef, it was like ironic to me that a person whose life revolves around food is actually experiencing GERD because of it. Know what I’m saying?

What else did you learn about Non-Erosive GERD?

I learned that I don’t like it!

For real though, GERD is no joke. I didn’t even realize that it impacts millions of adults just like me, or that there’s multiple GERDs.

They also told me about Erosive GERD. I didn’t even know your esophagus could erode!

But, VOQUEZNA can help with that too.

What would you say to someone worried about their heartburn or talking to their doctor?

I get it, I mean it can be intimidating but go talk to them. Your doctor is your friend. I mean, that sounded a little creepy, pretend that it didn’t. No.

They’re also the only people who can diagnose GERD and get you feeling better so you can focus on other things. Mangia! You know what I mean?

Now we will review the Indication & Important Safety Information, and please visit the link in the caption for Important Safety Information, Patient Information and Full Prescribing Information for VOQUEZNA.

INDICATION AND IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

What is VOQUEZNA?

• VOQUEZNA® (vonoprazan) is a prescription medicine used in adults:
  • for 8 weeks to heal acid-related damage to the lining of the esophagus (called Erosive Esophagitis) and for relief of heartburn related to Erosive Esophagitis.
  • for up to 6 months to maintain healing of Erosive Esophagitis and for relief of heartburn related to Erosive Esophagitis.
  • for 4 weeks for relief of heartburn related to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

It is not known if VOQUEZNA is safe and effective in children.

Do not take VOQUEZNA if you:

• are allergic to vonoprazan or any of the other ingredients in VOQUEZNA. Allergic reaction symptoms may include trouble breathing, rash, itching, and swelling of your face, lips, tongue or throat.
• are taking a medicine that contains rilpivirine (EDURANT, COMPLERA, JULUCA, ODEFSEY) used to treat HIV-1 (Human Immunodeficiency Virus).

Before taking VOQUEZNA, tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions, including if you:

• have low magnesium, calcium, or potassium in your blood, or you are taking a medicine to increase urine (diuretic).
• have kidney or liver problems.
• are pregnant, think you may be pregnant, or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if VOQUEZNA will harm your unborn baby.
• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if VOQUEZNA passes into your breast milk. You and your healthcare provider should decide if you will take VOQUEZNA or breastfeed. You should not do both.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Keep a list of them to show your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.

VOQUEZNA may affect how other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how VOQUEZNA works. Especially tell your healthcare provider if you take medicine that contains rilpivirine (EDURANT, COMPLERA, JULUCA, ODEFSEY).

What are the possible side effects of VOQUEZNA?

VOQUEZNA may cause serious side effects including:

• A type of kidney problem (acute tubulointerstitial nephritis): Some people who take VOQUEZNA may develop a kidney problem called acute tubulointerstitial nephritis. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have a decrease in the amount that you urinate or if you notice blood in your urine.
• Diarrhea caused by an infection (Clostridioides difficile) in your intestines: Call your healthcare provider right away if you have watery stools, stomach pain, and fever that does not go away.
• Bone fractures (hip, wrist, or spine): Bone fractures in the hip, wrist, or spine may happen in people who take multiple daily doses of another type of medicine that reduces acid in your stomach known as proton pump inhibitors (PPI medicines) for a long period of time (a year or longer). Tell your healthcare provider if you have a bone fracture, especially in the hip, wrist, or spine.
• Severe skin reactions: VOQUEZNA can cause rare, but severe skin reactions that may affect any part of your body. These serious skin reactions may need to be treated in a hospital and may be life threatening:
  • Skin rash which may have blistering, peeling, or bleeding on any part of your skin.
  • You may also have fever, chills, body aches, shortness of breath, or enlarged lymph nodes.

• If you experience any of these symptoms, stop taking VOQUEZNA and call your healthcare provider right away. These symptoms may be the first sign of a severe skin reaction.

• Low vitamin B-12 levels: VOQUEZNA lowers the amount of acid in your stomach. Stomach acid is needed to absorb Vitamin B12 properly. Tell your healthcare provider if you have symptoms of low vitamin B12 levels, including irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, lightheadedness, tingling or numbness in the arms or legs, muscle weakness, pale skin, feeling tired, or mood changes. Talk with your healthcare provider about the risk of low vitamin B12 levels if you have been on VOQUEZNA for a long time.
• Low magnesium levels in the body can happen in people who take VOQUEZNA. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have symptoms of low magnesium levels, including seizures, dizziness, irregular heartbeat, jitteriness, muscle aches or weakness, or spasms of the hands, feet, or voice.
• Stomach growths (fundic gland polyps): A certain type of stomach growth called fundic gland polyps may happen in people who take another type of medicine that reduces acid in your stomach known as proton pump inhibitors (PPI medicines) for a long time. Talk with your healthcare provider about the possibility of fundic gland polyps if you have been on VOQUEZNA for a long time.

The most common side effects of VOQUEZNA for treatment of Erosive Esophagitis and/or relief of heartburn related to gastroesophageal reflux disease include:

• stomach inflammation
• diarrhea
• stomach bloating
• stomach pain
• nausea
• indigestion
• constipation
• high blood pressure
• urinary tract infection

These are not all the possible side effects of VOQUEZNA. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist. Call your healthcare provider for medical advice about side effects.

You are encouraged to report suspected adverse reactions by contacting Phathom Pharmaceuticals at 1-888-775-PHAT (7428) or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.

Please see Patient Information and full Prescribing Information for VOQUEZNA at VOQUEZNA.com

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