Gastroenterology
Gastroenterology is the branch of medicine concerning the digestive system and its disorders. The gastrointestinal tract consists of many organs, and these can be affected by a wide range of illnesses of varying severity—everything from gastritis to cancer.
One group that is affecting growing numbers of patients is inflammatory intestinal diseases. The most common of these is ulcerative colitis, a chronic inflammation with periodic flare-ups in the intestinal wall that causes open wounds to form in the colon or rectum. Ulcerative colitis is believed to be an autoimmune disease in which the immune system for some unknown reason attacks cells in the intestinal wall. About 500,000 people suffer from ulcerative colitis in the US alone. In Sweden, between 500 and 1,000 people develop the condition every year. The disease causes substantial suffering for the patient and high costs for society, in both lost working days and health care costs.
Meda has several key products in the gastroenterology therapy area, such as Moxalole for treatment of constipation, Cortifoam/Colifoam for treatment of rectal inflammation, and Proctofoam for relief of anal inflammation and itching.
Key Products in Gastroenterology
Moxalole
Moxalole is used for short-term treatment of constipation. The product can also be used to treat fecaloma, very severe constipation. Moxalole contains PEG-3350, which binds water and thereby increases the volume of the excrement and normalizes bowel movements. Moxalole also contains salts that maintain the body’s normal salt and fluid balance.
Cortifoam
Cortifoam (in some markets, Colifoam) is a rectal foam for topical treatment of ulcerated inflammation of the rectal mucous membrane. Hydrocortisone acetate, the active ingredient, has an anti-inflammatory effect.
Proctofoam
Proctofoam is a corticosteroid for topical treatment that gives effective relief from inflammation and itching in conjunction with skin conditions in the anal area. The drug consists of an aerosol foam and a specially designed applicator makes the product simple and convenient to use.
