Experimental gastroparesis drug to be presented at medical conference
August 25th, 2010 by Jennifer Walker-Journey
A new medication may soon be available for patients who suffer from advanced gastroparesis, or delayed emptying of the stomach contents. Tranzyme Pharma is presenting data on its experimental drug ulimorelin later this month at the 2010 Joint International Meeting in Neurogastroenterology and Motility in Boston, Mass.
The presentation, entitled, “Ulimorelin (ghrelin agonist) effects on daily vomiting due to diabetic gastroparesis,” summarizes the effects of ulimorelin in patients with daily, moderate to severe vomiting.
Individuals with severe gastroparesis face frequent hospitalizations and emergency room admissions due to recurrent nausea and vomiting, which are often associated with dehydration, malnutrition and weight loss due to inadequate caloric food intake. Currently, there are no safe and effective treatments for gastroparesis. Prescription medications to treat the condition were either withdrawn from the market or now carry a black box warning due to serious side effects.
For example, the gastroparesis drug Reglan (metoclopramide) has side effects that include the risk of developing tardive dyskinesia, a neurological disorder that causes involuntary movements of the muscles in the face, arms and torso.
Tranzyme Pharma’s new drug, ulimorelin, offers a glimmer of hope to sufferers of severe gastroparesis. The Phase 2 study of diabetic patients with advanced gastroparesis given ulimorelin intravenously once daily for four days, demonstrated clinically and statistically significant improvements in multiple gastroparesis-related symptoms, including vomiting and nausea. Patients who had moderate to severe daily vomiting during the 4-day period just prior to the start of the study also reported a marked reduction in the number of days vomiting during the 4-day treatment period.