Pantoprazole is chemically a novel substituted benzimidazole derivative, which suppresses the final step in gastric acid production by forming a covalent bond to two sites of H+/K+ ATPase enzyme system at the secretory surface of the gastric parietal cell. This leads to inhibition of both basal and stimulated gastric effect that persists longer than 24 hours.
Pantoprazole is quantitatively absorbed and its bioavailability does not change upon multiple dosing. Pantoprazole is extensively metabolized in the liver. Almost 80% of an oral dose is excreted as metabolites in urine; the remainder is found in feces.