Novel pharmacological therapies for irritable bowel syndrome

ABSTRACT

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a prevalent functional gastrointestinal disorder, which represents a major cost to healthcare services. Current pharmacological treatment includes fibre supplements, antispasmodics, laxatives, loperamide and antidepressants. This article reviews the novel pharmacological treatments already or recently approved for patients with IBS-C (lubiprostone, linaclotide) and IBS-D (alosetron, ramosetron, rifaximin, eluxadoline). Furthermore, results for drugs in development (plecanatide, ibudutant and ebastine) or used in chronic constipation or for other indications, with potential application in IBS (prucalopride, elobixibat, mesalazine, ondansetron and colesevelam) are also reviewed.

KEYWORDS:

• IBS treatment
• pain
• diarrhea
• constipation

Financial & competing interests disclosure

M Corsetti is funded by a grant from Leuven University and has acred as a speaker for Shire, Menarini. P Whorwell has acted as a consultant for, or received research grant support from, the following pharmaceutical companies in the last 5 years: Almirall Pharma, Boehringer–Ingelheim, Chr. Hansen, Danone Research, Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Salix, Shire UK, Sucampo Pharmaceuticals and Allergan. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.