Functional constipation (FC) is a common healthcare problem in children of all ages, potentially due to genetic predisposition, inadequate fiber and fluid intake, and immobility. Currently, there are no pharmacological therapies approved for the treatment of FC. This study will assess adverse events and change in disease activity with linaclotide therapy in participants with FC. Linaclotide is an approved drug being developed for the treatment of FC in pediatric patients, ages 2 to 5, who meet modified Rome IV criteria for childhood FC. In Part 1 of this study, participants are placed in 1 of 2 groups, called treatment arms. Each group receives a different treatment. There is a 1 in 2 chance that participants will be assigned to placebo. All participants in Part 2 will receive linaclotide. Approximately 116 participants aged 2 to 5 years with FC will be enrolled in this study at around 45 sites worldwide. Participants will receive daily doses of oral Linaclotide capsules or matching placebo for 12 weeks in Part 1 of the study. In Part 2, the open label long-term safety extension, participants with FC who completed study intervention in Part 1 of Study M21-572 or the Phase 2 Study LIN-MD-67 will receive linaclotide for 24 weeks. There may be higher treatment burden for participants in this trial compared to their standard of care (due to study procedures). Participants will attend visits during the study at a hospital or clinic. The effect of the treatment will be checked by medical assessments, blood tests, checking for side effects and completing questionnaires.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
123
Capsule; oral
Capsule; oral
G & L Research, LLC /ID# 250658
Foley, Alabama, United States
Velocity Clinical Research - Phoenix /ID# 266280
Phoenix, Arizona, United States
HealthStar Research of Hot Springs PLLC /ID# 249481
Hot Springs, Arkansas, United States
Applied Research Center of Arkansas /ID# 249764
Little Rock, Arkansas, United States
Advanced Research Center /ID# 249412
Anaheim, California, United States
Change From Baseline in 12-week Spontaneous Bowel Movement (SBM) Frequency Rate (SBMs/Week) Observed by the Primary Caregiver During the Double-blind Study Intervention Period
An SBM is defined as a BM that occurs in the absence of laxative, enema, or suppository use on the calendar day of the BM or the calendar day before the BM. The caregiver/parent/guardian/legally authorized representative (LAR) will complete the electronic diary (eDiary), providing data for the SBM frequency rate up to the last dose date equivalent to the 12-week SBM frequency rate. Baseline values for efficacy endpoints related to daily eDiary responses were derived from the eDiary in the preintervention period, specifically the time period from 14 days before randomization and up to the time of randomization.
Time frame: Baseline to Week 12
Number of Participants With Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events
An adverse event (AE) is defined as any untoward medical occurrence in a patient/clinical investigation subject administered a pharmaceutical product which doesn't necessarily have a causal relationship with this treatment. The investigator assesses the relationship of each event to the use of study drug. A serious adverse event (SAE) is an event that results in death, is life-threatening, requires or prolongs hospitalization, results in a congenital anomaly, persistent or significant disability/incapacity or is an important medical event that, based on medical judgment, may jeopardize the subject and may require medical or surgical intervention to prevent any of the outcomes listed above. Treatment-emergent adverse events/treatment-emergent serious adverse events (TEAEs/TESAEs) are defined as any event that began or worsened in severity on or after the first dose of study drug.
Time frame: From the time of study drug administration until 30 days or 5 half-lives after the last dose, up to 126 days in Period 1 and 226 days in Period 2
Change From Baseline in 12-week Stool Consistency Observed by the Primary Caregiver During the Double-blind Study Intervention Period
The caregiver/parent/guardian/legally authorized representative (LAR) rated and recorded in an eDiary the consistency of the stool for each BM using the Bristol Stool Form 7-point scale in which 1=Separate hard lumps, like nuts (hard to pass); 2=Sausage-shaped, but lumpy; 3=Like a sausage but with cracks on its surface; 4=Like a sausage or snake, smooth and soft; 5=Soft blobs with clear cut edges (easy to pass); 6=Fluffy pieces with ragged edges, a mushy stool; and 7=Watery, no solid pieces, entirely liquid. A response of "I don't know" was considered as a missing score. Lower scores indicate firmer stool consistency. A subject's stool consistency score for the study intervention period is the average of the non-missing BSFS scores for the primary caregiver-observed SBMs during that specific period.
Time frame: Baseline to Week 12
Change From Baseline in 12-week Straining Observed by the Primary Caregiver During the Double-blind Study Intervention Period
The caregiver/parent/guardian/LAR rated and recorded in an eDiary the amount of straining they observed when the child passed the BM using two 3-point rating scales:. 1) For the bowel movement #X you were with the child for, did he/she grunt like he/she was straining? 0 = No, not at all; 1 = Yes, a little; 2 = Yes, a lot; I don't know. 2) For the bowel movement #X you were with the child for, did he/she make a face like he/she was straining? 0 = No, not at all; 1 = Yes, a little; 2 = Yes, a lot; I don't know. "I don't know" was considered a missing response. Higher scores indicate more straining. The subject's straining score was the average of the nonmissing average straining scores for all the primary caregiver-observed SBMs during the specific period.
Time frame: Baseline to Week 12
Change From Baseline in 12-week Proportion of Days With Fecal Incontinence During the Double-blind Study Intervention Period (for Those With Toileting Skills)
Caregivers of children who have acquired toileting skills for BMs were asked about their child's fecal incontinence episodes. Toileting skills were assessed as part of the first daily diary, modified daily diary, or clinic diary and responses were carried through to the completion of the study.
Time frame: Baseline to Week 12
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Kindred Medical Institute - Corona /ID# 249485
Corona, California, United States
Medical Ctr for Clin Research /ID# 254386
San Diego, California, United States
Prohealth Research Center /ID# 249420
Doral, Florida, United States
KIDZ Medical Services - Hollywood /ID# 250823
Hollywood, Florida, United States
Nemours Children's Health System /ID# 250881
Jacksonville, Florida, United States
...and 38 more locations