Novel approaches and clinical opportunity for gastrointestinal prokinetic drugs

Drugs which increase gastrointestinal (GI) motility are needed by many different patients where transit of intraluminal contents is reduced by disease, drugs or medical procedures. GI prokinetic drug classes include those which enhance gastric emptying (in particular, motilin and ghrelin receptor agonists) and those which increase transit through the intestine (e.g. 5-HT4 and guanylate cyclase-C receptor agonists, and activators of CLC-2 chloride channels). The potential utility of these new agents is reviewed.

Section editor:Gareth J. Sanger – Immuno-Inflammation Centre of Excellence for Drug Discovery, GlaxoSmithKline, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, UK