Sponsor request

The purpose of this study is to assess the effectiveness of cisapride in patients with a primary diagnosis of chronic gastroparesis (a stomach disorder) of unknown cause.

This is a double-blind (neither the physician nor the patient will know the name of assigned treatment) study to determine the effectiveness of cisapride tablets compared to placebo tablets (a tablet identical in appearance to cisapride but does not contain active drug) in patients with a primary diagnosis of idiopathic gastroparesis (a disorder of unknown cause in which the stomach empties its contents very slowly into the small intestine for digestion. Symptoms of gastroparesis may include vomiting, nausea, early feeling of fullness after only a few bites of food, weight loss due to poor absorption of nutrients or low calorie intake, abdominal bloating, poor glycemic (blood sugar) control, lack of appetite, and pain in the stomach area. Patients will take study drug (one 10-mg tablet of cisapride, or one tablet of placebo), orally, 4 times a day, for a period of 8 weeks. Study drug will be taken approximately 15 minutes before each meal, and, with a beverage, before going to bed.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosed with nondiabetic idiopathic gastroparesis and having symptoms for at least 12 weeks in the preceeding 12 months
• Experienced inadequate response, or intolerance to therapy to date
• Have exacerbation of gastroparesis symptoms requiring medical attention
• Demonstrate delayed gastric emptying as assessed by a [1-13C]-Sodium Acetate Breath Test within 14 days before randomization

Exclusion Criteria:

• Received prior treatment with cisapride
• Have a gycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) >7% and bloodglucose of 126 mg/dL (7.0 mmol/L) or greater at screening, as determined by clinical laboratory testing
• Have any upper gastrointestinal (GI) pathology other than idiopathic gastroparesis that would require therapy other than that provided in this trial
• Have any organic/neurological disease that is suspected to be causing gastroparesis
• Currently vomiting, or receiving therapy for a severe exacerbation of gastroparesis, that would prevent the patient from receiving oral therapy or a diet