Solvay Pharmaceuticals unveiled this week results from a six-month study of both male and female patients and from a subgroup analysis of males with Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Diarrhea predominance (IBS-D). Treatment with cilansetron resulted in significant benefits including overall IBS symptom improvement, relief of abdominal pain/discomfort and abnormal bowel habits (including diarrhea and urgency) in both men and women.
Among other results, the study showed that after six months, 59% of patients receiving cilansetron reported overall adequate relief of IBS symptoms, while specifically 61% reported relief of abdominal pain/discomfort, and 64% reported relief of abnormal bowel habits. The most common adverse effect was constipation, which occurred in 12% of cilansetron patients; other adverse effects included headache, abdominal pain, nausea and nasopharyngitis. No severe complications of constipation occurred. Three suspected cases of ischemic colitis events were reported; all resolved without complication.
These results were released during Digestive Disease Week (DDW) 2004, the annual international meeting for gastroenterologists, held May 15-20 in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. More details on the study results are available on the internet, at www.solvaypharmaceuticals-us.com.
IBS is a chronic condition affecting more than one in ten men and women worldwide and may require long-term therapy.
“The results of this study suggest that cilansetron has the potential to significantly relieve the overall symptoms of IBS-D, improving the quality of life for men and women who struggle with this disease on a daily basis,” said Dr. Marc Bradette, Professor of Medicine, Laval University, Quebec City, Quebec.