FDA Approves First IBS Constipation Drug

WASHINGTON, D. C. - Officials at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have approved the first medication to treat women with short-term irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

The drug, manufactured by Novartis AG, is intended to aid those who suffer from constipation.

"Zelnorm marks a breakthrough for the millions of women who suffered for years with IBS with constipation," says chairman and CEO of Novartis Daniel Vasella, MD.

IBS symptoms include abdominal pain and discomfort, bloating and altered bowel function. The syndrome, second only to the common cold in the leading cause of workplace absenteeism in the United States, costs the American healthcare system some $30 billion annually.

"Patients suffering from abdominal pain, bloating and constipation associated with IBS endure a great deal of distress, often preventing them from participating in such simple everyday activities as going to work or school, participating in sports or enjoying a vacation with their family," says Nancy Norton, president and founder of the International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders. "The approval of Zelnorm is very exciting news for millions of women who suffer from this condition."

The drug is the first in a new class of pharmaceuticals called serotonin-4 receptor agonists.

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