Shire reports experiences of UC patients

Shire has reported on the daily experience of ulcerative colitis (UC) patients, with research from the firm revealing that the psychological toll of the condition exceeds that felt by patients with asthma, migraines and rheumatoid arthritis.

According to a questionnaire from the company, 73 per cent of UC patients state that feeling unwell has become a standard part of their life, while 75 per cent claim disruption to their sexual relationships.

Furthermore, 82 per cent of patients with UC report that the condition adversely affects their emotional state, while Shire notes that the majority of these patients normalise their experiences and learn to live with the ever-present disruption to their lives.

David Rubin, assistant professor of medicine at the University of Chicago Medical Centre, said: “These findings sound an alarm because a diagnosis of UC shouldn’t mean patients are settling for the level of burden reported in this survey for the next 50 or 60 years.”

He added that UC is a condition that can be managed with the administration of appropriate medical treatment.

In January 2007, Shire announced the availability of Lialda (mesalamine), an orally-administered compound containing 5-aminosalicyclic acid for the treatment of active mild-to-moderate UC.