Background/Aims: Elobixibat, an ileal bile acid transporter (apical sodium-dependent bile acid transporter) inhibitor, was recently launched in Japan for the treatment of chronic idiopathic constipation. We conducted an interim analysis of post-marketing surveillance to evaluate the safety and efficacy of elobixibat in elderly patients with chronic constipation and compared the efficacy according to administration time. Methods: Safety and efficacy outcomes were evaluated through patient interviews for 4 weeks. Results: Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) were observed in 5.24% of the 1049 patients analyzed; diarrhea (2.19%) and abdominal pain (1.81%) were the most common. A serious ADR of death was reported in one patient (0.10%). The incidence of ADRs in the ≥ 65-year old or ≥ 75-year-old subpopulation was similar to that in the total patient population. Mean bowel movements per week significantly increased from 2.9 ± 2.5 at baseline to 5.0 ± 3.1 (P< 0.001) at Week 2 and 5.3 ± 2.6 (P < 0.001) at Week 4. The mean Bristol Stool Form Scale score significantly increased from 2.3 ± 1.4 at baseline to 3.8 ± 1.3 (P < 0.001) at Week 2 and 3.9 ± 1.1 at Week 4 (P < 0.001). Bowel movements significantly increased in the elderly population and subpopulations receiving elobixibat before breakfast, lunch, or dinner. The median time to bowel movement was 5 hours. Conclusion The results suggested that elobixibat was well-tolerated and efficacious in elderly patients with chronic constipation and can be administered before any meals.

Objectives: This postmarketing study aims to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of oral administration of risedronate at 75 mg once monthly for 36 months in patients with osteoporosis in Japan. Methods: Participants were ambulatory outpatients with osteoporosis who were ≥ 50 years old and had prevalent vertebral fractures. Outcomes were the incidence rate of adverse drug reaction (ADR), cumulative incidence of vertebral, nonvertebral, and hip fractures, the percent changes of lumbar spinal L2–4 bone mineral density (BMD), and low back pain. In addition, medication compliance was examined. Results: Safety, vertebral fractures, and other outcomes were analyzed in 542, 328, and 535 patients, respectively. In the safety analysis set, 88.38% of the patients were women and the mean age was 75.9 years. The monthly medication compliance rate ranged from 83.24% to 95.38%. The incidence rate of ADRs, including 4 severe ADRs, was 10.52% (n = 57). The common ADRs were gastrointestinal disorders, musculoskeletal, and connective tissue disorders. No osteonecrosis of the jaw was reported. The cumulative incidences (95% CI) of vertebral, nonvertebral, and hip fractures at 36 months were 12.58% (8.61–18.18), 6.59% (4.31–10.01), and 1.58% (0.64–3.88), respectively. The L2–4 BMD increased by 10.59% compared with baseline value (P < 0.01), and the proportion of patients with low back pain decreased to 30.77%, at 36 months. Conclusions Administering 75 mg of risedronate once a month remains a favorable compliance rate and may be useful for the treatment of patients, even the elderly, with osteoporosis in daily practice.

Objectives: This postmarketing study aims to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of oral administration of risedronate at 75 mg once monthly for 36 months in patients with osteoporosis in Japan. Methods: Participants were ambulatory outpatients with osteoporosis who were ≥ 50 years old and had prevalent vertebral fractures. Outcomes were the incidence rate of adverse drug reaction (ADR), cumulative incidence of vertebral, nonvertebral, and hip fractures, the percent changes of lumbar spinal L2–4 bone mineral density (BMD), and low back pain. In addition, medication compliance was examined. Results: Safety, vertebral fractures, and other outcomes were analyzed in 542, 328, and 535 patients, respectively. In the safety analysis set, 88.38% of the patients were women and the mean age was 75.9 years. The monthly medication compliance rate ranged from 83.24% to 95.38%. The incidence rate of ADRs, including 4 severe ADRs, was 10.52% (n = 57). The common ADRs were gastrointestinal disorders, musculoskeletal, and connective tissue disorders. No osteonecrosis of the jaw was reported. The cumulative incidences (95% CI) of vertebral, nonvertebral, and hip fractures at 36 months were 12.58% (8.61–18.18), 6.59% (4.31–10.01), and 1.58% (0.64–3.88), respectively. The L2–4 BMD increased by 10.59% compared with baseline value (P < 0.01), and the proportion of patients with low back pain decreased to 30.77%, at 36 months. Conclusions Administering 75 mg of risedronate once a month remains a favorable compliance rate and may be useful for the treatment of patients, even the elderly, with osteoporosis in daily practice.