Participants needed for clinical trial on new GERD treatment
March 11th, 2010 by Jennifer Walker-Journey
Researchers from the North Alabama Research Center based in Athens, Ala., are looking for people to participate in clinical trials for a potential new medication to treat gastrointestinal disease, also known as GERD. Persons age 18 to 70 who are still suffering from symptoms of GERD despite treatment with prescription medications are welcome to participate in the clinical trial. Participants must live within 50 miles of the clinic. Those interested can sign up at the Clinical Connection Web site here.
Clinical trials are medical research studies involving people that seek to prevent disease, find treatments, diagnose diseases, or control symptoms. Trials on experimental drugs, such as the GERD study, aim to identify if the drug is safe, has side effects, works better than currently used treatments, and helps users feel better. Experimental drugs are not tested on people unless they show promising results in laboratory tests.
GERD is a chronic condition in which the liquid contents of the stomach regurgitate or back up into the esophagus. This liquid can inflame and irritate the lining of the esophagus, causing symptoms such as heartburn, sour taste in the back of the throat, a dry cough and interrupted sleep. If left untreated, it can also lead to esophageal cancer.
Treatments include diet changes and medication. While many drugs are available over-the-counter to treat heartburn, more potent prescription alternatives are limited. One common prescription treatment is Reglan (metoclopramide), however the drug carries an FDA black box warning of a serious, involuntary movement disorder known as Tardive Dyskinesia. For sufferers of GERD, identifying a safe and effective treatment could be life changing.