Strong IBS-C data for Sucampo/Takeda's Amitiza

New study results indicate that treatment with Amitiza (lubiprostone) 8mcg lead to significant relief of overall symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome with constipation, according to data presented at the Digestive Disease Week conference, held in San Diego, USA, the largest annual international meeting of digestive disease specialists.

William Chey, primary investigator of the study, noted that "these data are important because they show that, in studies, Amitiza has demonstrated the ability to improve the overall symptoms reported by patients with IBS-C." Developed by the USA's Sucampo Pharmaceuticals and Japanese drug major Takeda, Amitiza 8mcg was approved by the Food and Drug Administration at the end of April for the treatment of IBS-C in women 18 years of age and older (Marketletter May 5), and has been approved since 2006 at a 24mcg dose as a therapy for chronic idiopathic constipation in adults.

"Amitiza is the first ClC-2 channel activator and the only widely-available, FDA-approved agent for the treatment of IBS-C in adult women in the USA. Amitiza could provide overall symptom relief for the millions of appropriate patients in the USA who suffer from this condition," said Ryuji Ueno, chief executive of Sucampo.