An Efficacy and Safety Study of Prucalopride in Participants With Chronic Constipation

Percentage of responders (participants with an average of 3 or more SCBMs per week) will be assessed during first 4 weeks of 12-week double-blind treatment phase (total treatment duration). SCBM will be defined as a Spontaneous Bowel Movement (SBM) associated with a sense of complete evacuation. SBM is defined as a bowel movement (BM) that occurred in the absence of laxative, enema, or suppository used on either the calendar day of the BM or the calendar day before the BM. Average weekly frequency of SCBMs will be calculated as number of SCBMs in Week 1 to 4 multiplied by 7 divided by total number of evaluable days in Week 1 to 4.

Percentage of participants with an average increase of 1 or more SCBMs per week as compared to the run-in phase (that is screening phase at Week Minus 2) will be assessed. SCBM is defined as SBM that is associated with a sense of complete evacuation. SBM is defined as a BM that occurred in the absence of laxative, enema, or suppository use on either the calendar day of the BM or the calendar day before the BM. Average weekly frequencies will be calculated as number of SCBMs in interval multiplied by 7 divided by total number of evaluable days in interval.

Percentage of participants with an average increase of 3 or more SCBMs per week will be assessed. SCBM is defined as SBM that is associated with a sense of complete evacuation. SBM is defined as a BM that occurred in the absence of laxative, enema, or suppository use on either the calendar day of the BM or the calendar day before the BM. Average weekly frequencies will be calculated as number of SCBMs in interval multiplied by 7 and divided by total number of evaluable days in interval.

An increase in the average number of SCBMs per week will be assessed during Weeks 1 to 12. SCBM will be defined as a SBM that is associated with a sense of complete evacuation. SBM is defined as a BM that occurred in the absence of laxative, enema, or suppository use on either the calendar day of the BM or the calendar day before the BM. Average weekly frequencies will be calculated as (number of SCBMs in interval * 7) / number of evaluable days in interval.

Average number of SBMs is assessed. SBM is defined as a BM that occurred in the absence of laxative, enema, or suppository use on either the calendar day of the BM or the calendar day before the BM. Average weekly frequencies will be calculated as (number of SBMs in interval * 7) / number of evaluable days in interval.

Average number of BMs will be assessed.BMs are spontaneous discharge of waste matterfrom the large intestine. Average weekly frequencies will be calculated as (number of BMs in interval * 7) / number of evaluable days in interval.

SCBM is defined as a SBM that is associated with a sense of complete evacuation. SBM is defined as a bowel movement BM that occurred in the absence of laxative, enema, or suppository use on either the calendar day of the BM or the calendar day before the BM. Average weekly frequencies will be calculated as (number of SCBMs in interval * 7) / number of evaluable days in interval.

Average number of bisacodyl tablets taken is determined. Bisacodyl 5, 10, or 15 milligram (mg) is used as rescue medication. Rescue medications are medicines that may be administered to the participants when the efficacy of the study drug is not satisfactory, or the effect of the study drug is too great and is likely to cause a hazard to the participant, or to manage an emergency situation. Average weekly frequencies will be calculated as (number of bisacodyl tablets in interval * 7) / number of evaluable days in interval.

Average number of bisacodyl tablets taken will be determined during 12-week double-blind treatment phase. Bisacodyl 5, 10, or 15 milligram (mg) will be used as rescue medication. Rescue medications are medicines that may be administered to the participants when the efficacy of the study drug is not satisfactory, or the effect of the study drug is too great and is likely to cause a hazard to the participant, or to manage an emergency situation. Average weekly frequencies will be calculated as (number of bisacodyl tablets in interval * 7) / number of evaluable days in interval.

Percentage of BM with normal consistency for each participant will be calculated by dividing number of BMs with normal consistency with total number of BMs in that participant multiplied by 100. Average of percentage of BM with normal consisitency for all participants have been reported. The consistency of each BM will be assessed using the 7-point Bristol Stool Scale: score ranging from 1 to 7,wherein 1=stool is separate hard lumps, like nuts (hard to pass); and 7=watery, no solid pieces, entirely liquid (passed easily). Score 3 and 4 indicates normal consistency.

Percentage of BM with less straining for each participant will be calculated by dividing number of BMs with less straining with total number of BMs in that participant multiplied by 100. Average of percentage of BM with less straining for all participants will be reported. Degree of straining is measured on a 5-point scale: 0=none, 1=mild, 2=moderate, 3=severe, 4=very severe. Less straining indicates none or mild degree of straining.

Percentage of BM with a sensation of complete evacuation for each participant will be calculated by dividing number of BMs with a sensation of complete evacuation with total number of BMs in that participant multiplied by 100. Average of percentage of BM with a sensation of complete evacuation for all participants will be reported. Percentage of BMs with a sensation of complete evacuation will be calculated as (number of BMs with a sensation of complete evacuation in interval / [number of SCBMs or BMs with non - missing scores in interval] * 100%).

Participants Global Assessment on consistency of stool will be assessed with Types 1-2=constipation,Types 3-4= ideal stools and Types 5-7=further tending towards diarrhea or urgency based on Bristol Stool Scale. Bristol Stool Scale:1=stool is separate hard lumps, like nuts (hard to pass);2=stool is sausage-shaped but lumpy; 3=stool is like a sausage but with cracks on its surface; 4=stool is like a sausage or snake, smooth and soft; 5=stool is soft blobs with clear-cut edges (passed easily);6=fluffy pieces with ragged edges, mushy stool;7=watery, no solid pieces, entirely liquid (passed easily).

Participants Global Assessmentof severity of constipation will be assessed using a 5-point scale ranging from 0 to 4: 0=absent (no constipation); 1=mild constipation; 2=moderate constipation; 3=severe constipation; 4=very severe constipation.

Participants global assessment on efficacy of treatment was assessed using a 5-point scale ranging from 0 to 5: 0=not at all effective; 1=a little bit effective; 2=moderately effective; 3=quite a bit effective; 4=extremely effective.

Investigator's Global Assessment on efficacy of treatment will be assessed using rating on a 5-point scale: 0=not at all effective; 1=a little bit effective; 2=moderately effective; 3=quite a bit effective; 4=extremely effective

The PAC-SYM is a 12-item participant self-administered instrument that measures the severity of constipation-related symptoms. Items are rated on a 5-point Likert scale, where 0=absent, 1=mild, 2=moderate, 3=severe, and 4=very severe. The PAC-SYM contains 3 subscales: stool symptoms (5 items), abdominal symptoms (4 items) and rectal symptoms (3 items)

The PAC-SYM is comprised of the following 3 subscales: Stool symptoms (5 items): bowel movements that require straining or squeezing, bowel movements that are too hard, bowel movements that are too small, bowel movements that result in a sensation of incomplete evacuation, the feeling of having to pass a bowel movement but couldn't (false alarm); Abdominal symptoms (4 items):abdominal discomfort, abdominal pain, abdominal cramping, abdominal bloating; Rectal symptoms (3 items): painful bowel movements, rectal burning, bleeding or tearing during or after a bowel movement.

The percentage of participants who rated the study treatment with efficacy score of 3=quite a bit to 4=extremely effective on global evaluation of efficacy of treatment was determined.

Percentage of participants with an improvement of greater than or equal to 1 point on the PAC SYM score will be determined. The PAC-SYM is a 12-item participant self-administered instrument that measures the severity of constipation-related symptoms. Items are rated on a 5-point Likert scale, where 0=absent, 1=mild, 2=moderate, 3=severe, and 4=very severe. The PAC-SYM contains 3 subscales: stool symptoms (5 items), abdominal symptoms (4 items) and rectal symptoms (3 items).