8 August 2019
Intermittent or chronic nausea. Bloating. Burning, shearing or gnawing abdominal pain. A feeling of fullness after eating just a few bites. Poor appetite and weight loss. These symptoms add up to the distressing condition known as gastroparesis – a chronic, life-limiting disorder that leads to weight loss and potentially life-threatening complications. Gastroparesis is characterised by delayed gastric emptying and, while it is often associated with type 1 diabetes, most cases are idiopathic. There are no cures, only treatments, and some of those are less than satisfactory – posing risks of serious side effects and losing potency over time.
Gastroparesis appears to associate with aberrant regulation of gastrointestinal function through neuropeptides binding to the neurokinin receptors, namely NK-1, -2 and -3. There are signs of a possible step forward with tradipitant, a second generation NK-1 receptor antagonist. There is evidence that this drug is well tolerated by humans, with only mild side-effects, and that it has benefited patients with gastroparesis. [Read more…]