The first generic drug for Nexium to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease was approved by the Food and Drug Administration this week. 

The generic version of the drug, called Esomeprazole, is a proton pump inhibitor that reduces the amount of acid in the stomach. 

"Health care professionals and consumers can be assured that these FDA-approved generic drugs have met our rigorous standards," Kathleen Uhl, director of the Office of Generic Drugs in the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said in a news release. "It is important for patients to have access to treatment options for chronic conditions." 

Gastroesophageal reflux, the disease the newly approved drug will treat, occurs when the stomach's contents come back up into the esophagus. The condition can also cause heartburn or indigestion. 

About seven million people in the U.S. have some gastroesophageal reflux symptoms and about sixty percent of the adult population will experience some form of the disease within a 12 month period, according to Health Line. 

The esomeprazole capsules were also FDA approved to reduce the risk of gastric ulcers associated with use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), treat the stomach infection Helicobacter pylori (combined with certain antibiotics), and to treat conditions where the stomach makes too much acid.