Irritable Bowel Syndrome Treatment - New Drug Offers Improvements For Symptoms

Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Forest Laboratories, Inc. recently announced that they had successfully completed the first of two scheduled Phase 3 Clinical Trials that aim to assess the efficacy and safety of Linaclotide, an investigational drug that was developed to treat patients with irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C). The second scheduled Phase 3 Clinical Trial is currently being carried out, and the results of this trial are expected to be released in Q4 2010.

The CEO of Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Peter Hecht, commented on the successful completion and positive results of the first Phase 3 Clinical Trial: “The results of this Phase 3 trial, combined with the previously reported positive IBS-C and chronic constipation trial results, further support our belief that Linaclotide has the potential to improve abdominal pain and bowel symptoms, offering a promising treatment for more than 30 million individuals suffering from these chronic gastrointestinal disorders.”

Howard Solomon, the Chairman and CEO of Forest Laboratories, Inc. also expressed his confidence in the potential of this new investigational drug: “There are millions of patients suffering from IBS-C and limited treatment options to address both their abdominal pain and bowel symptoms, which were improved in this first clinical study. These results are very promising. We believe Linaclotide will be a valuable treatment for these patients. We look forward to receiving the results of the second pivotal trial in Q4 2010.”