Synergy Pharmaceuticals Inc (SGYP) Targets Root Cause Of Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome has no organic cause and treating it usually depends on reducing symptoms of chronic abdominal pain, bloating, and gastric discomfort. While there is no drug to cure the condition yet, Irritable Bowel Syndrome can be managed with a number of drugs available. Synergy Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ:SGYP) is among one of the few companies that are actively involved in looking for the right treatment for this disorder. In this article, I shall discuss what Irritable Bowel Syndrome is and why Synergy should go ahead with its clinical trials to treat Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

What Is Irritable Bowel Syndrome?

Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a collection of gastrointestinal symptoms that do not have any organic cause. The patients often run through a number of tests for allergies, blood work and other diagnostic procedures without anything that can explain their symptoms. They are often referred to psychologists and are prescribed anti-anxiety drugs in order to reduce psychological distress associated with IBS. It is thought that IBS is a psychosomatic disorder that has its roots in anxiety. However, intensive psychological treatment too does not help IBS sufferers all the time. Those who find that their symptoms are not alleviated by stress reduction techniques, dietary changes and exercise often resort to medications that reduce chronic abdominal pain, constipation, bloating and altered bowel habits.

Synergy’s New Drug May Treat the Root Cause of GI Symptoms

People diagnosed with IBS are often prescribed laxatives, antispasmodics, tricyclic antidepressants, serotonin agonists and other drugs in order to reduce psychological distress and gastrointestinal difficulties. Synergy announced the commencement of Phase I clinical trial of SP-333, which is a guanylate cyclase C (GC-C) agonist. SP-333 is expected to treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and ulcerative colitis. SP-333 has shown promising results in animal studies and is expected to be the first line choice to treat mild-moderate UC patients. The drug is expected to treat GO inflammatory conditions including IBS. SP-333 is a synthetic analog of uroguanylin. Uroguanylin is produced in the intestinal tract and is a peptide hormone that alleviates gastrointestinal difficulties.

SP-333 Meets Unfulfilled Needs

Synergy will be able to fulfill unmet needs among IBS and IBD sufferers as most treatments that are available right now only target superficially and do not treat the root cause. Synergy’s SP-333 behaves like a natural peptide and is expected to treat IBS, IBD and UC efficiently. An estimated 605 of IBS sufferers also suffer from psychological difficulties such as anxiety and depression but it is possible that these conditions are due to physical symptoms over which the patient has no control whatsoever. When the root cause is treated, a patient will not need to be prescribed psychiatric drugs that have severe side effects.