SIU Med School Part of National Colitis Study

Adults are being recruited by Southern Illinois University School of Medicine as part of a national study of a new medication, OPC-6535, to determine its effectiveness in the treatment of acute ulcerative colitis. The study is a phase 3, multi-center trial underway at 40-sites and sponsored by the gastroenterology division in SIU's Department of Internal Medicine.

"Acute ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory disease of the colon of unknown cause that affects 2 million people in North America," said Dr. John O'Brien, professor of internal medicine and SIU's director of gastroenterology and hepatology, who is directing the study. "This study is important because this compound has promising effectiveness and a good safety record."

Volunteers between the ages of 18 and 80 are being sought for the study, which is which is randomized, double-blind and placebo controlled. Participants should be in good general health, but experiencing flares of ulcerative colitis and not on oral steroids. Each participant will receive a physical examination and other tests before beginning and during six visits over eight weeks. There is no charge to the participants for the tests, which include a colonoscopy (endoscopic exam of the colon), various blood tests, an electrocardiogram or ECG. The study is sponsored by Otsuka Maryland Research Institute. Results will be shared with the participant's personal physician.

[Patient recruitment for this study is now closed.]

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