Asimadoline and its potential for the treatment of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome: a review

simadoline and its potential for the treatment of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome: a review Review (3596) Total Article Views Authors: Mangel AW, Hicks GA Published Date January 2012 Volume 2012:5 Pages 1 - 10 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/CEG.S23274 Received: 11 October 2011 Accepted: 08 December 2011 Published: 12 January 2012 Allen W Mangel1, Gareth A Hicks2 1RTI Health Solutions, Research Triangle Park, NC, 2Tioga Pharmaceuticals Inc, San Diego, CA, USA Abstract: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a multifactorial condition with principal symptoms of pain and altered bowel function. The kappa-opioid agonist asimadoline is being evaluated in Phase III as a potential treatment for IBS. Asimadoline, to date, has shown a good safety profile and the target Phase III population – diarrhea-predominant IBS patients with at least moderate pain – was iteratively determined in a prospective manner from a Phase II dose-ranging study. The clinical data in support of this population are reviewed in this article. Furthermore, the scientific rationale for the use of asimadoline in the treatment of IBS is reviewed. Considering the high patient and societal burdens of IBS, new treatments for IBS represent therapeutic advances.