Polyethylene Glycol 3350 in the Treatment of Chronic Idiopathic Constipation: Post hoc Analysis Using FDA Endpoints

METHODS: This multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial included adults with chronic idiopathic constipation randomized to polyethylene glycol 3350 17 g (n = 204) or placebo (n = 100) once daily for 24 weeks. Post hoc analyses were performed using the US Food and Drug Administration endpoint (≥3 complete spontaneous bowel movements/week and an increase of ≥1 complete spontaneous bowel movement/week from baseline for ≥9/12 weeks, including 3 of the last 4 weeks) along with additional efficacy and safety outcomes. RESULTS: The proportion of patients meeting the new endpoint was significantly higher with polyethylene glycol 3350 vs placebo (42% vs 13%; P < 0.0001). Reductions in the mean number of hard/lumpy stools/week (–2.1 vs –0.9; P = 0.0014) and the weekly mean five-point cramping rating (–0.3 vs –0.1; P = 0.0272) also significantly favored polyethylene glycol 3350. The proportion of subjects with gastrointestinal adverse events decreased markedly after the first week of treatment in the polyethylene glycol 3350 group. CONCLUSION: Using the current US Food and Drug Administration-recommended responder definition and other secondary outcomes, once-daily polyethylene glycol 3350 demonstrated substantial and sustained efficacy and safety over 24 weeks in patients with chronic idiopathic constipation. Trial Registration. The original trial was registered with https://clinicaltrials.gov Trial: NCT00153153.