Ironwood Pharmaceuticals to Present Real-World Clinician Insights on Total Parenteral Nutrition Burden in Short Bowel Syndrome at Digestive Disease Week® 2026
Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has announced that it will present a series of new data analyses and clinical insights at Digestive Disease Week 2026 (DDW), scheduled to take place from May 2–5 in Chicago. The presentations will highlight findings from the company’s LANDMARK survey, as well as multiple clinical datasets spanning its gastrointestinal (GI) and rare disease pipeline, with a particular focus on short bowel syndrome (SBS) and chronic constipation-related disorders.
At the center of Ironwood’s upcoming presentations is the LANDMARK survey, which captures real-world perspectives from healthcare professionals (HCPs) on the burden associated with total parenteral nutrition (TPN) in patients living with Short Bowel Syndrome. The survey also explores clinicians’ preferences regarding emerging therapies that could reduce reliance on TPN and improve patient outcomes.
SBS is a serious and often life-altering condition that arises when a significant portion of the small intestine is missing or nonfunctional. This results in reduced capacity to absorb fluids and essential nutrients, leaving many patients dependent on parenteral support (PS), which includes intravenous nutrition and hydration. For patients with SBS who develop intestinal failure—commonly referred to as SBS-IF—this dependence can become chronic and lifelong.
While PS is frequently life-sustaining, it is also associated with considerable treatment burden. Patients must often manage complex infusion regimens, typically administered through central venous catheters, which can interfere with daily activities and significantly impact quality of life. Moreover, long-term PS use carries risks such as bloodstream infections, liver complications, and metabolic imbalances. These challenges underscore the urgent need for therapies that can reduce dependence on intravenous nutrition while preserving or improving intestinal function.
According to current estimates, approximately 18,000 adult patients across the United States, Europe, and Japan are living with SBS-IF and remain chronically dependent on PS. Despite advances in supportive care and nutritional management, there are still limited treatment options available that directly address the underlying condition or meaningfully reduce the need for TPN. This persistent unmet need has driven research into novel therapeutic approaches, including hormone-based treatments that enhance intestinal adaptation.
Ironwood is among the companies working to address this gap through the development of Apraglutide, an investigational, long-acting synthetic analog of glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2). GLP-2 is a naturally occurring hormone that plays a key role in intestinal growth and function. By mimicking and enhancing the effects of GLP-2, apraglutide is designed to improve nutrient absorption and reduce the need for parenteral support in patients with SBS.
Michael Shetzline, M.D., Ph.D., chief medical officer and head of research and drug development at Ironwood, emphasized the importance of understanding real-world clinical challenges in managing SBS-IF. He noted that while PS remains a critical component of care, it places a significant burden on both patients and healthcare providers. By incorporating insights from practicing clinicians, the LANDMARK survey aims to provide a clearer picture of current treatment practices, perceived limitations, and priorities for future therapies.
Shetzline also highlighted that these insights are essential for guiding the development of next-generation treatments. Understanding how clinicians weigh factors such as efficacy, safety, convenience, and quality-of-life impact can help shape therapeutic innovation and ensure that new interventions address the most pressing needs in SBS care.
In addition to the LANDMARK survey findings, Ironwood will present long-term safety and tolerability data from its STARS clinical trial program evaluating apraglutide in adults with SBS-IF. These data are expected to provide further evidence on the drug’s potential to reduce PS dependence while maintaining a favorable safety profile. The once-weekly dosing regimen of apraglutide is also being investigated as a potential advantage over existing therapies, offering greater convenience for patients managing complex treatment schedules.
The company’s DDW presentations will also extend beyond SBS to include additional analyses involving its established GI therapies. Notably, Ironwood will share findings related to Linaclotide, a therapy widely used for the treatment of chronic constipation-related conditions. These include Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation (IBS-C) and Chronic Idiopathic Constipation (CIC), both of which are prevalent disorders that significantly affect patient quality of life.
Among the planned presentations are post hoc analyses examining how factors such as concomitant medications, patient demographics, and disease severity may influence the efficacy and safety of linaclotide. One analysis will explore the impact of pH-modifying agents on treatment outcomes in adults with IBS-C or CIC, providing insights into how commonly used medications may interact with linaclotide therapy.
Another key presentation will focus on pediatric patients aged 2 to 5 years with functional constipation, highlighting results from an open-label safety extension of a Phase 3 study. This research is particularly important given the limited number of approved treatment options for young children with chronic constipation and the need for therapies that are both effective and well-tolerated in this population.
Additional analyses will examine treatment outcomes across different racial, ethnic, and age groups, as well as in patients with more severe forms of CIC. These studies aim to provide a more nuanced understanding of how linaclotide performs across diverse patient populations, supporting more personalized approaches to GI care.
The breadth of data being presented at DDW reflects Ironwood’s broader commitment to advancing the understanding and treatment of GI disorders. By combining real-world evidence, clinical trial data, and patient-centered research, the company is working to address both common and rare conditions that have historically been underserved.
DDW is one of the largest and most influential gatherings in the field of gastroenterology, bringing together clinicians, researchers, and industry leaders from around the world. Participation in this conference provides an important platform for sharing new scientific findings, fostering collaboration, and shaping the future of GI care.
In summary, Ironwood’s upcoming presentations at DDW 2026 will offer valuable insights into the burden of TPN in SBS-IF, the potential of apraglutide as a novel therapeutic option, and the ongoing optimization of treatments like linaclotide for constipation-related disorders. Through these efforts, the company aims to improve patient outcomes, reduce treatment burden, and advance innovation across the GI therapeutic landscape.
About the LANDMARK Survey
The LANDMARK disease burden survey is a cross-sectional study of HCPs, patients and caregivers assessing the real-world burden of SBS and PS dependence. The HCP survey recruited 336 participants (U.S., n=123; Europe, n=213) with two or more years of experience treating patients with SBS-IF and actively managing one or more patients. Respondents included physicians (42.0%), pharmacists (23.0%) and dietitians (18.0%), practicing primarily in gastroenterology (45.2%), clinical nutrition/nutritional support (23.5%) and internal medicine (17.3%).
About Apraglutide
Apraglutide is an investigational, next-generation, long-acting synthetic GLP-2 analog with the potential to treat a range of rare gastrointestinal diseases where GLP-2 can play a central role in addressing disease pathophysiology. Ironwood is advancing apraglutide for short bowel syndrome (“SBS”) patients dependent on parenteral support (“PS”), a severe chronic malabsorptive condition. As the first and only GLP-2 to achieve a statistically significant reduction in weekly parenteral support volume with once-weekly administration, Ironwood believes apraglutide has the potential to improve the standard of care for adult patients with SBS who are dependent on PS.
About LINZESS (Linaclotide)
LINZESS® is the #1 prescribed brand in the U.S. for the treatment of patients with irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) or chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC), based on IQVIA data. LINZESS is a once-daily capsule that helps relieve the abdominal pain and constipation, associated with IBS-C in adults and pediatric patients 7 years of age and older. LINZESS has also been shown to relieve constipation, infrequent stools, hard stools, straining and incomplete evacuation associated with CIC in adult patients. LINZESS relieves constipation in children and adolescents aged 6 to 17 years with functional constipation.
LINZESS is not a laxative; it is the first medicine approved by the FDA in a class called GC-C agonists. LINZESS contains a peptide called linaclotide that activates the GC-C receptor in the intestine. Activation of GC-C is thought to result in increased intestinal fluid secretion and accelerated transit and a decrease in the activity of pain-sensing nerves in the intestine. The clinical relevance of the effect on pain fibers, which is based on nonclinical studies, has not been established.
In the United States, Ironwood and AbbVie co-develop and co-commercialize LINZESS for the treatment of adults with IBS-C or CIC. In Europe, AbbVie markets linaclotide under the brand name CONSTELLA® for the treatment of adults with moderate to severe IBS-C. In Japan, Ironwood’s partner, Astellas, markets linaclotide under the brand name LINZESS for the treatment of adults with IBS-C or CIC. Ironwood also has partnered with AstraZeneca for development and commercialization of LINZESS in China, and with AbbVie for development and commercialization of linaclotide in all other territories worldwide.
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