Daewoong Pharmaceutical announced on Wednesday that the clinical phase 3 results of its tablet-form bowel cleansing agent, Cleancol Tab., have been published in the World Journal of Gastroenterology, a prestigious Science Citation Index (SCI) level international journal in the field of gastroenterology.
While oral bowel cleansers have been popular in the U.S. due to their effectiveness and ease of use compared to liquid and powder forms, patients have expressed concerns about the discomfort of taking numerous pills (28 in total) and potential side effects, which can lead to poor medication adherence.
Daewoong’s Cleancol Tab. addresses these issues by reducing the sulfate content by 25% compared to existing products and decreasing the number of tablets to 20, making it easier for patients to take.
The company reports that the product includes additional ingredients to aid bowel movements, allowing for excellent cleansing effects with fewer tablets.
The study, published in the journal, was based on a multicenter, randomized phase 3 trial involving 215 adults across seven university hospitals in South Korea.
Dr. Dong Il Park from Kangbuk Samsung Hospital led the research as the principal investigator, with Dr. Soo-bum Park from Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital serving as the first author.
The results showed that Cleancol Tab. maintained comparable bowel cleansing efficacy to existing products, despite the reduced tablet count of 20.
Dr. Park, the lead researcher, stated that Cleancol Tab. has demonstrated clinically sufficient bowel cleansing effects and excellent safety with a lower dosage compared to traditional Oral Sulfate Solutions (OSS). It expects it to help reduce the burden patients face during colonoscopy preparation and improve medication adherence.
Dr. Hyeong-cheol Park, head of ETC Marketing at Daewoong Pharmaceutical, commented that Cleancol Tab. addresses the dosage issue that patients find most challenging during colonoscopy preparation while ensuring the necessary cleansing performance and safety. It believes this publication in an international journal will establish Cleancol Tab. as a significant option for colonoscopy preparation.