Omeprazole is administered orally as a galenic formulation

to protect it from being activated during its journey through

the acidic contents of the stomach. Once it is released in the

intestines, it is absorbed into the blood supply and carried

to the parietal cells where it crosses the cell membrane into

the canaliculi and is activated. As the canaliculi lead directly

into the lumen of the stomach, why is omeprazole not orally

administered directly to the stomach?