Proctor and Gamble touts findings for ulcerative colitis drug

Proctor & Gamble (P&G) has revealed that its Asacol tablets have a beneficial effect on quality of life in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC).

New data from phase III trials has shown that the delayed-release tablets enabled a “statistically significant” improvement in quality of life for patients, defined by the inflammatory bowel disease questionnaire from the start of the study, to three weeks and then six weeks into the study.

Researchers found that quality of life scores improved by 28.3 points and 38.1 points from three and six weeks respectively, from the study group comprising 687 patients – 349 of whom received Asacol.

E Jan Irvine, lead author of the study and head of gastroenterology at St Michael’s Hospital in Toronto, Canada, remarked: “The goals of UC therapy are to treat active disease and prevent relapse in order to improve quality of life – and now the data tell us that Asacol does, in fact, improve quality of life for patients, as quickly as three weeks from the start of therapy.”

Previous studies into Asacol have found that the use of the drug is associated with both the successful treatment of UC and mucosal healing.

Recently, AG Lafley, chairman, president and chief executive officer of P&G, stated that the company is focused on delivering industry-leading growth and transforming the company to enable it to adapt to “unrelenting change and competition”.

The company is also researching compounds for gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and gastroparesis.