The investigational drug camicinal for the treatment of gastroparesis.

Introduction: Gastroparesis is a syndrome of delayed gastric emptying in the absence of mechanical obstruction that presents with upper gastrointestinal symptoms. Despite its growing prevalence, there remains an unmet clinical need for more efficacious prokinetic treatment options. The current market includes prokinetic agents that reduce gastroparesis symptoms. However, adverse drug effects and tachyphylaxis with repeated dosing are among the factors that limit their use. Camicinal (GSK962040) is the most advanced, small-molecule, selective motilin receptor agonist with therapeutic potential to date. Areas covered: This article reviews the literature on the limitations of current prokinetic agents used in the treatment of gastroparesis. It also summarizes the current evidence and influential clinical trial results involving the investigational drug camicinal, and shares its preliminary findings from the literature. Expert opinion: Camicinal represents a new opportunity as a treatment in a clinical area in need of new agents. There is emerging literature to support how the drug addresses both gastroparesis symptoms and dysmotility with no significant adverse effects or tachyphylaxis reported to date. Challenges remain in getting a new compound approved for gastroparesis. However, careful design of future trials will help to continue the record of success camicinal trials have had thus far.