According to surveyors from both academia and the pharmaceutical industry, the general population experiences a 10% incidence rate of constipation. Such a high incidence means that there is a large market for medications and supplements targeted toward constipation, and that the number of players in the market that supply these treatment agents is correspondingly large.
The fact that there are many supplements and medications targeted toward the constipation patient might discourage new entrants into the market, however the truth is that there are fairly few (if any) universally effective treatments. Instead, the product market is fragmented into sectors, none of which can provide complete relief to the average sufferer. The market for constipation treatments can continue to support novel agents, as long as they provide new benefits over existing treatments.
At the moment, the market for therapeutics is divisible into four categories. These include herbal supplements that are usually not regulated by the FDA unless there are exceptional circumstances, medical laxatives that can be prescribed or bought over counter, nutritional supplements available in health or fitness stores, and a new class of molecular therapies which act in novel ways unless traditional therapies.
The market for nutrient supplements is dominated by players such as Metamucil. The nutrients are derived from natural foods or grains that have lots of fiber. To take as an example, Metamucil comes in a powdered drink form which contains ground psyllium seeds that are extremely rich in fiber. People who take it simply mix it with fluids and drink it for a powerful daily dose.
For constipation remedies based on herbs, one will likely find that senna is the biggest contender on the block. There actually are a number of other herbal agents which exert a propulsive effect on intestinal contents such as aloe and cascara. However, safety concerns in recent years mean that manufacturers can no longer indicate on labeling that aloe and cascara are meant for constipation. Many people adhere to FDA guidelines.
By far the most active segment of the constipation treatment market is the over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medication category. The medicines are all quite different in their mode of action, individual efficacy and cost. It's likely that a patient will have to try out a few before finding one that works well. Some examples of these include stimulant laxatives and lubricant laxatives.
Finally, a new generation of medicines known as "molecular" medicines await approval from the FDA. The first of these, amitiza, directly fires a protein receptor in sensor cells of the intestine which cause fluid secretion and spontaneous bowel movement. General laxatives operate through unclear mechanisms usually with empirical bases, whereas amitiza and other agents were designed for a specific mechanism. The result is a more targeted medication, and one that has achieved elusive acceptance by the FDA for treating chronic constipation.
The fact that there are many supplements and medications targeted toward the constipation patient might discourage new entrants into the market, however the truth is that there are fairly few (if any) universally effective treatments. Instead, the product market is fragmented into sectors, none of which can provide complete relief to the average sufferer. The market for constipation treatments can continue to support novel agents, as long as they provide new benefits over existing treatments.
At the moment, the market for therapeutics is divisible into four categories. These include herbal supplements that are usually not regulated by the FDA unless there are exceptional circumstances, medical laxatives that can be prescribed or bought over counter, nutritional supplements available in health or fitness stores, and a new class of molecular therapies which act in novel ways unless traditional therapies.
The market for nutrient supplements is dominated by players such as Metamucil. The nutrients are derived from natural foods or grains that have lots of fiber. To take as an example, Metamucil comes in a powdered drink form which contains ground psyllium seeds that are extremely rich in fiber. People who take it simply mix it with fluids and drink it for a powerful daily dose.
For constipation remedies based on herbs, one will likely find that senna is the biggest contender on the block. There actually are a number of other herbal agents which exert a propulsive effect on intestinal contents such as aloe and cascara. However, safety concerns in recent years mean that manufacturers can no longer indicate on labeling that aloe and cascara are meant for constipation. Many people adhere to FDA guidelines.
By far the most active segment of the constipation treatment market is the over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medication category. The medicines are all quite different in their mode of action, individual efficacy and cost. It's likely that a patient will have to try out a few before finding one that works well. Some examples of these include stimulant laxatives and lubricant laxatives.
Finally, a new generation of medicines known as "molecular" medicines await approval from the FDA. The first of these, amitiza, directly fires a protein receptor in sensor cells of the intestine which cause fluid secretion and spontaneous bowel movement. General laxatives operate through unclear mechanisms usually with empirical bases, whereas amitiza and other agents were designed for a specific mechanism. The result is a more targeted medication, and one that has achieved elusive acceptance by the FDA for treating chronic constipation.
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