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Constipation

Linaclotide—a stimulating new drug for chronic constipation

Few effective treatments for the common disorder of chronic constipation are currently available. Linaclotide, a guanylate cyclase C receptor agonist, has shown promising efficacy as a treatment for chronic constipation in a phase IIb, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, dose-ranging trial. This new therapy could potentially improve symptoms, such as bloating and discomfort, as well as bowel habits for patients with chronic constipation.

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The author declares that she has received grant or research support from Alba and has acted as a consultant for Ironwood, Proctor & Gamble, Salix, and Takeda.

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Harris, L. Linaclotide—a stimulating new drug for chronic constipation. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 7, 365–366 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrgastro.2010.84

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