Acotiamide Hydrochloride Hydrate

Since the previous network meta-analysis assessing the efficacy of prokinetics for functional dyspepsia (FD), there have been a number of new studies and cinitapride is a new prokinetic agent for FD. This updated meta-analysis aimed to explore the efficacy and safety of prokinetics for FD.

An updated study search in Pubmed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library and Web of Science was conducted in literatures published from July 2015 to March 2023. Randomized controlled trials investigating the use of prokinetics in adult FD patients were included. The primary outcome was the total efficacy rate and the secondary outcome was adverse events. A Bayesian network meta-analysis was performed using R software.

A total of 28 studies were included. Network meta-analysis showed that metoclopramide had a higher total efficacy rate than mosapride (OR: 3.53, 95%CI: 1.70-7.47), domperidone (OR: 2.29, 95%CI: 1.16-4.63), itopride(OR: 2.77, 95%CI: 1.41-5.59), acotiamide(OR: 2.63, OR: 1.33-5.36), and placebo(OR: 5.68, 95%CI: 2.98-11.10), however similar to cinitapride (OR: 1.62, 95%CI: 0.75-3.53). Cinitapride had a higher total efficacy rate than mosapride (OR: 2.18, 95%CI: 1.16-4.14) and placebo (OR: 3.52, 95%CI: 2.01-6.24). Cinitapride had lower risk of total adverse events than domperidone. There was no difference in the risk of drug-related adverse events between the prokinetics.

Metoclopramide and cinitapride may have a better efficacy than other prokinetics in the treatment of FD, and cinitapride may have a lower risk of total adverse events. Further studies using uniform definitions or validated tools to measure the total efficacy rate are needed.

We have determined that the impaired accommodation of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) underlies the pathogenesis of esophagogastric junction outflow obstruction (EGJOO). We have also found that acotiamide may treat EGJOO by improving impaired LES accommodation. The effects of acotiamide in patients with EGJOO need to be further confirmed in a prospective study.

This trial is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to compare the efficacy and safety of acotiamide (300 mg/day or 600 mg/day) with those of a placebo in the treatment of patients with EGJOO. The primary endpoint will be the proportion of patients who report an improvement in symptom of food sticking in the chest after 4 weeks of treatment period 1. The secondary endpoints will be the proportion of patients with normalized integrated relaxation pressure (IRP), the value of change from baseline in the distal contractile integral, basal LES pressure, EGJOO-quality of life score, Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale, and the correlation between IRP and each symptom score. During the 2-year trial period, 42 patients from five institutions will be enrolled.

This trial will provide evidence to clarify the efficacy and safety of acotiamide as a treatment for patients with EGJOO. Acotiamide might help improve the quality of life of patients with EGJOO and is expected to prevent the progression of EGJOO to achalasia.

This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of Kyushu University Hospital as well as the local IRBs of the participating sites for clinical trials and registered in the Japan Registry of Clinical Trials (jRCT: 2071210072). The registration date is on October 11, 2021.