AstraZeneca recruits patients for KODIAC Phase III trial in opioid-induced constipation

Aug 2 2011

AstraZeneca (NYSE:AZN) today announced that study centers across the U.S. are recruiting patients for a clinical study to examine whether an investigational drug is safe and effective in treating opioid-induced constipation (OIC). The study, known as KODIAC, is a Phase III clinical trial examining an investigational drug in patients experiencing constipation as a result of opioid use, which is a potential side effect of prescription opioid pain medications.

Opioids, such as morphine, are commonly prescribed to patients experiencing chronic pain, which can provide relief from serious medical conditions including osteoarthritis, cancer, and chronic back pain. In fact, opioids are considered the mainstay for cancer pain management, with up to 70 percent of advanced cancer patients experiencing chronic pain. However, pain medicines often may result in debilitating side effects such as constipation. There are a variety of strategies used to treat opioid-induced constipation; however, many patients fail to find effective relief.

"Up to 50 percent of patients on opioids can suffer from constipation," said Jaakko Lappalainen, M.D., Senior Director, Clinical Research, AstraZeneca. "Patients taking opioids and experiencing constipation are encouraged to consider speaking with their physicians about their condition and ask about participation in a clinical trial. The KODIAC study is a clinical trial being conducted to help determine whether AstraZeneca's investigational drug may be helpful in treating this medical problem."

Potential participants can learn more about the KODIAC study by watching this short video or visiting painandconstipation.com. Information about the KODIAC study, including patient eligibility, enrollment requirements, and study location sites can be obtained on the Web site or by calling the patient hotline at 866-320-6956.

"AstraZeneca supports clinical trial research examining new treatment approaches," said Chris Fleischmann, R.N., Study Leader, AstraZeneca. "We encourage sharing knowledge about clinical trials, like the KODIAC study, with interested and eligible participants, as a means of furthering the research community's efforts to find treatments for conditions like opioid-induced constipation."

Source: AstraZeneca