The activities of various types of antiulcer agents against Helicobacter pylori strains were determined by an agar dilution method. Among the compounds tested, benzimidazole proton pump inhibitors were found to have significant activity against this organism. The activity of lansoprazole was fourfold more potent than that of omeprazole and bismuth subsalicylate, with MICs ranging from 1.56 to 25 micrograms/ml. Exposure of Helicobacter pylori to lansoprazole led to an extensive loss of viability as well as suppression of virulence factors such as motility, adhesiveness to epithelial cells and urease activity. The combination of lansoprazole with antimicrobial agents such as penicillins, cephalosporins, macrolides, tetracyclines, aminoglycosides, quinolones, metronidazole and bismuth subsalicylate generally had an additive effect on inhibition of Helicobacter pylori growth.