Synergy Pharmaceuticals
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I n v e n tin g th e f u tu re f o r G I d is ease
DISEASE FACT SHEET:
IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME
WITH CONSTIPATION (IBS-C)
What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
Irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, is a disorder of the digestive tract.
Symptoms vary, but often include abdominal pain or other abdominal
symptoms, such as cramping, bloating, gas or abdominal discomfort.
Patients may have constipation or diarrhea or both.
What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome with
Constipation?
Irritable bowel syndrome with constipation, or IBS-C, is one of three
types of IBS in which constipation is the major bowel movement pattern
observed. The other two types are irritable bowel syndrome with
diarrhea, or IBS-D, and irritable bowel syndrome with alternating constipation and diarrhea, or IBS-A.1,2,3
People with IBS-C often suffer from intense abdominal pain,
bloating and discomfort, in addition to symptoms of constipation.
Those with IBS-C report fewer than 3 bowel movements per week,
feeling of incomplete bowel movements, straining during bowel movements, and lumpy or hard stools.
Why assign IBS patients to subtypes?
The subtype to which an IBS patient is assigned depends upon the
predominant bowel movement pattern and symptoms. Subtypes help
doctors guide treatment based on the dominant symptom.2
FACT:
As many as 1 in 6 –
or up to 50 million
adult Americans –
suffer from irritable
bowel syndrome (IBS).
A quarter of patients
describe their pain as
constant.
In fact, IBS is one of
the most common
reasons for work or
school absenteeism,
second only to the
common cold.
DISEASE FACT SHEET:
IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME
WITH CONSTIPATION (IBS-C)
How common is IBS? What about IBS-C?
IBS is one of the most commonly diagnosed gastrointestinal illnesses in the
United States. As many as 1 in 6 – or up to 50 million adult Americans – suffer
from IBS. About 13 million of these patients suffer from the IBS-C subtype.1,4
What differentiates IBS-C from chronic constipation?
The differentiating factor is the abdominal pain that people with IBS-C have on a
frequent and ongoing basis.
Who is affected by IBS?
The symptoms of IBS usually begin in young adulthood, before age 35, and
affect many more women than men.1,3,4
How serious is IBS? What is it like to live with this disorder?
IBS profoundly impacts patients’ physical, social and working lives. A quarter of
patients describe their abdominal pain as constant, many say bowel symptoms
restrict their activities 20% of the time, and 4 out of 10 say IBS is causing them to
lose control of their lives. IBS patients miss 3 to 4 times more work days annually
than the national average of 5 days. In fact, IBS is one of the most common
reasons for work or school absenteeism, second only to the common cold.
Patients with IBS also have a higher rate of hospitalizations, feelings of poor
quality of life, and abdominal surgeries than healthy people, and even patients
with other gastrointestinal disorders.5
FACT:
In the U.S. alone,
the annual cost of IBS
treatment is estimated
to be as much as
$10 billion in direct
medical costs –
excluding the price
tag for Rx and OTC
drugs – and $20 billion
annually for indirect
costs.
What causes IBS?
The causes of IBS aren’t well understood. Researchers believe that a combination of physical problems -- including brain-gut signal problems, hypersensitivity, bacterial gastroenteritis, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO),
body chemicals, genetics, food sensitivity, and mental health problems can lead
to IBS.1,2,3
Synergy Pharmaceuticals
NASDAQ:SGYP
DISEASE FACT SHEET:
IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME
WITH CONSTIPATION (IBS-C)
Is there a cure for IBS?
There is no cure for IBS.
How is IBS treated? What about IBS-C?
IBS patients take a variety of medications -- including narcotic and non-narcotic
analgesics, antidepressants and antispasmodics to treat the pain; antidiarrheals, OTC
laxatives and stool softeners, and prescription treatments to regulate bowel movements -- all of which have the potential to cause side effects. IBS-C is also managed
by treating symptoms through lifestyle changes such as a high-fiber diet, regular
MEDIA CONTACT:
exercise and increased fluid intake. More than a third of IBS patients use complemen-
Janet Skidmore
skidmorecomm@earthlink.net
Office: 215-658-4915
Mobile: 215-429-2917
tary or alternative therapies, such as acupuncture and herbs, but there is little scientific
evidence that these therapies work.
The bottom line: Fewer than 1 in 10 patients say they are satisfied with the available
INVESTOR CONTACT:
treatments for IBS.4,5
Danielle Spangler
The Trout Group
synergy@troutgroup.com
Office: 646-378-2924
What is the cost of IBS to healthcare systems?
Healthcare systems spend billions of dollars annually to diagnose and treat this
disorder. In the U.S. alone, the annual cost of IBS treatment is estimated to be as much
as $10 billion in direct medical costs such as doctor and hospital visits and diagnostic
SYNERGY
PHARMACEUTICALS INC.
procedures -- excluding the price tag for prescription and OTC drugs -- and $20 billion
New York, NY and
Doylestown, PA
annually for indirect costs.6
WEBSITE:
References:
www.synergypharma.com
1. Irritable bowel Syndrome. National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC).http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/ibs/#1 Updated July 2,
2012. Accessed April 4, 2013.
2. Freeman K. Irritable bowel syndrome. Cleveland Clinic Website. http://www.clevelandclinicmeded.com/medicalpubs/diseasemanagement/gastroenterology/
irritable-bowel-syndrome/ Accessed April 4, 2013.
3. Bharucha AE. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The Merck Manual Home Health Handbook for Patients and Caregivers Website. http://www.merckmanuals.
com/home/digestive_disorders/irritable_bowel_syndrome_ibs/irritablebowel_syndrome_ibs.html?qt=Irritable%20bowel%20syndrome%20with%20constipation&alt=sh Updated May 2007. Accessed April 4, 2013.
4. Lovell RM, Alexander FC. Global prevalence of and risk factors for irritable bowel syndrome: a meta-analysis. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2012;10:712-721.
5. IBS Patients: Their Illness Experience and Unmet Needs Survey Report, International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (IFFGD) with the
University of North Carolina(UNC) Center for Functional GI and Motility Disorders. IFFGD Website. http://www.aboutibs.org/pdfs/IBSpatients.pdf Updated June
18, 2009. Accessed April 4, 2013.
6. Hulisz D. The burden of illness of irritable bowel syndrome: current challenges and hope for the future. J Manag Care Pharm. 2004;10(4):299-309.
Synergy Pharmaceuticals
NASDAQ:SGYP