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Disease

Constipation

Late-stage therapeutic developmentEmerging research
MeSHConstipation
2
Publications
24
Clinical trials
2
Related conditions
2017
Latest publication
Latest activity
beta

Recent clinical, regulatory, research and industry developments relating to this disease.

What's happening now

An analyst briefing on current research, clinical, regulatory and industry activity surrounding this disease.

Executive briefingUpdating summary…Momentum: Moderate
Key developments
  • 4 clinical trials expected to report results, the earliest in Q3 2026.
  • 1 industry development reported.
Upcoming Milestones
Clinical Milestones9View all 9
Results posted 3
Results expected 4
Recently completed 2
+1 more in the activity timeline below
Industry & Market1View
Activity timeline10

Therapeutic landscape

Therapies with a regulatory footing for this condition, alongside the wider set of agents co-studied with it in the literature.

Approved & established therapies
Naloxegol oxalateapproved

Approval — Treatment of opioid-induced constipation (OIC) in adult patients who have had an inadequa… (2014)

Linaclotideapproved

Approval — Constella is indicated for the symptomatic treatment of moderate to severe irritable-bowe… (2012)

Prucalopride succinateapproved

Approval — Resolor is indicated for symptomatic treatment of chronic constipation in adults in whom… (2009)

Methylnaltrexone bromideapproved

Approval — Treatment of opioid-induced constipation in advanced-illness patients who are receiving p… (2008)

Clinical trials

16 sponsors · 2 new · 2 completed in the last 12 months (net +2)

The current development programme across all trial phases.

Clinical programme
24
All trials
6
Active
18
Late-stage
6
Completed
Late-stage studies

Efficacy and Safety of Lubiprostone in the Treatment of Slow Transit Constipation: A Multicenter, Randomized Controlled Trial

Phase 3 · Recruiting · Third Military Medical University

Effects of Probiotics (BioKid LR - Contains Nine Different Species of Probiotics Bacteria Including L. Reuteri) in Children With Functional Constipation: a Double Blind Randomized Control Trial

Phase 4 · Recruiting · Ferass Abu Hanna

An Open-label, Single Center Study Assessing Tenapanor as a Non-CFTR-mediated Treatment of CF-related Constipation in People With CF.

Phase 3 · Recruiting · Massachusetts General Hospital

A 26-Week, Multi-Center, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study to Assess the Safety and Efficacy of Tenapanor for the Treatment of Chronic Idiopathic Constipation (CIC) in Adults

Phase 3 · Recruiting · Ardelyx

Maralixibat in Patients With Cystic Fibrosis and Constipation, A Within-Subjects Pilot Study

Phase 2/3 · Recruiting · Children's Hospital Los Angeles

Effects of Home-based TEA for Abdominal Pain in Patients With Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Phase 2/3 · Recruiting · University of Michigan
Recruiting

Efficacy and Safety of Lubiprostone in the Treatment of Slow Transit Constipation: A Multicenter, Randomized Controlled Trial

Phase 3 · Recruiting · Third Military Medical University

Effects of Probiotics (BioKid LR - Contains Nine Different Species of Probiotics Bacteria Including L. Reuteri) in Children With Functional Constipation: a Double Blind Randomized Control Trial

Phase 4 · Recruiting · Ferass Abu Hanna

An Open-label, Single Center Study Assessing Tenapanor as a Non-CFTR-mediated Treatment of CF-related Constipation in People With CF.

Phase 3 · Recruiting · Massachusetts General Hospital

A 26-Week, Multi-Center, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study to Assess the Safety and Efficacy of Tenapanor for the Treatment of Chronic Idiopathic Constipation (CIC) in Adults

Phase 3 · Recruiting · Ardelyx

Maralixibat in Patients With Cystic Fibrosis and Constipation, A Within-Subjects Pilot Study

Phase 2/3 · Recruiting · Children's Hospital Los Angeles

Effects of Home-based TEA for Abdominal Pain in Patients With Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Phase 2/3 · Recruiting · University of Michigan
Recently completed

Pre- and Post-operative Compared to Post-operative Only Polyethylene Glycol 3350 for Minimally Invasive Urogynecologic Surgery

Phase 4 · Completed · University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center

A Phase 3, Multicenter, Randomized, Double-blind, Parallel-group, Safety and Efficacy Study of Linaclotide Versus Placebo in Pediatric Subjects, Ages 2 to 5 Years, With Functional Constipation (FC) With a 24-week Open-label Treatment Extension

Phase 3 · Completed · AbbVie

A Phase 3, Open-label, Long-term Safety Study of Oral Linaclotide Administered to Pediatric Participants With Functional Constipation (FC) or Irritable Bowel Syndrome With Constipation (IBS-C)

Phase 3 · Completed · AbbVie

Bowel Function After Minimally Invasive Hysterectomy: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Phase 4 · Completed · University of Chicago

A Phase 3, Multicenter, Randomized, Double-blind, Parallel-group, Safety and Efficacy Study of Linaclotide in Pediatric Participants, Ages 6 to 17 Years, With Irritable Bowel Syndrome With Constipation (IBS-C) and of Linaclotide Versus Placebo in Pediatric Participants With Functional Constipation (FC)

Phase 3 · Completed · AbbVie

Time to Transit Recovery After Treatment With Naloxegol in Cardiac Surgery Intensive Care Trial

Phase 3 · Completed · CMC Ambroise Paré

Regulatory timeline

Drug regulatory events matched to this condition by indication — EMA.

First approvals
2014emaApproval — Naloxegol oxalate· Treatment of opioid-induced constipation (OIC) in adult patients who have had an inadequate response to laxative(s). source ↗
2012emaApproval — Linaclotide· Constella is indicated for the symptomatic treatment of moderate to severe irritable-bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) in adults. source ↗
2009emaApproval — Prucalopride succinate· Resolor is indicated for symptomatic treatment of chronic constipation in adults in whom laxatives fail to provide adequate relief. source ↗
2008emaApproval — Methylnaltrexone bromide· Treatment of opioid-induced constipation in advanced-illness patients who are receiving palliative care when response to usual laxative therapy has not been sufficient. source ↗

European Medicines Agency (CC BY 4.0). Events are matched to this condition by drug indication text — approvals/updates for drugs indicated for it, not disease-specific acts.

Research activity

2 papers

Key research shaping understanding of this disease, combining the latest publications with the most influential evidence.

Major themes2
  • Gastrointestinal Microbiome2
  • Fecal Microbiota Transplantation1
Leading journals1
  • Microbiome2
Leading researchers8
  • Adams JB1
  • Albanese D1
  • Borody T1
  • Calabrò A1
  • Caporaso JG1
  • Cavalieri D1
  • Chittick L1
  • De Felice C1
Affiliations (unnormalised)6
  • Biodesign Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology1
  • BioTechnology Institute1
  • Center for Immunology1
  • Centre for Digestive Diseases1
  • Centre for Integrative Biology1
  • Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences1

Related conditions

2 matches

Diseases frequently studied alongside this one. Number shows shared papers.

Autism Spectrum Disorder2Gastrointestinal Diseases2

Reference

Authoritative identity, definition & identifiers.

Defined in MeSH

Infrequent or difficult evacuation of FECES. These symptoms are associated with a variety of causes, including low DIETARY FIBER intake, emotional or nervous disturbances, systemic and structural disorders, drug-induced aggravation, and infections.

Identifiers
MeSHConstipation
References & data sources
  • Disease identity & definition — NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH), public domain
  • Clinical trials — ClinicalTrials.gov (U.S. National Library of Medicine)
  • Research activity — Europe PMC (EMBL-EBI) + OpenAlex-derived paper links
  • Related entities are derived from literature co-mention (studied together) — associative, not causal.