AstraZeneca Initiates Phase III Clinical Programme Evaluating NKTR-118 for Treatment of Opioid-Induced Constipation

AstraZeneca AZN today announced enrolment of the first patient in the Phase III clinical programme for NKTR-118, an oral peripherally-acting opioid antagonist being investigated for the treatment of opioid-induced constipation (OIC).

The Phase III clinical programme is designed to investigate the safety and efficacy of NKTR-118 as a medicine to relieve opioid induced constipation, a common side effect of prescription opioids when used for chronic pain management. NKTR-118 is part of the exclusive worldwide license agreement announced on September 21, 2009, between AstraZeneca and Nektar Therapeutics NKTR.