New approaches to the treatments of short bowel syndrome-associated intestinal failure

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Teduglutide, a recombinant analog of human glucagon-like peptide 2, has recently been approved in the US and Europe (Gattex and Revestive, respectively) as the first targeted treatment of short bowel syndrome-associated intestinal failure (SBS-IF). Glucagon-like peptide 2 improves structural and functional intestinal adaptation following intestinal resection by decelerating a rapid gastric emptying, by decreasing gastric hypersecretion, by increasing intestinal blood flow and by promoting intestinal growth. This review summarizes the findings from phase 2 and 3 studies preceding the US Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency approval of subcutaneous teduglutide for this orphan condition.

RECENT FINDINGS: In a 3-week, phase 2, metabolic balance study, teduglutide increased intestinal wet weight absorption by approximately 700 g/day and reduced fecal energy losses by approximately 0.8 MJ/day (∼200 kcal/day). In two subsequent 24-week, phase 3 studies, teduglutide reduced the need for parenteral support in the same magnitude. Teduglutide had an acceptable tolerability profile, where adverse events generally were of gastrointestinal origin consistent with the known mechanism of action.

SUMMARY: Teduglutide will add incremental benefit to the limited medical treatment armamentarium in SBS patients by maximizing intestinal absorption, decreasing fecal losses, thereby decreasing or even eliminating the need for parenteral support. Future research should target and implement other key hormones with similar and possible additive or synergistic effects, thereby further promoting structural and functional adaptation and intestinal rehabilitation in these severely disabled SBS patients.