EFFECTS OF A NEW MOTILIDE, ABT-229, ON GASTRIC-EMPTYING AND POSTPRANDIAL ANTRODUODENAL MOTILITY IN HEALTHY-VOLUNTEERS

Background: ABT-229 is a recently developed derivative of erythromycin , devoid of antibiotic activity. We studied the effect of ABT-229 on g astric emptying and postprandial antroduodenal motility in healthy vol unteers. Methods: Placebo, 4 and 16 mg ABT-229 were given as a single oral dose to nine healthy volunteers, in a randomized, 3-period crosso ver design. A solid meal (250 kcal) was given twice, 45 min after drug ingestion and 4 h later. Gastric emptying of each meal was studied us ing the C-13-octanoic breath test. Antroduodenal motility was recorded during the total 9-h period. Results: After the first meal, both the 4 and 16 mg doses increased the gastric emptying rate to a similar ext ent. ABT-229 stimulated the contractile motility of the antrum dose-de pendently. The half-emptying time and the lag-phase of gastric emptyin g correlated with the number of pressure waves that were propagated ov er the antrum and the mean amplitude of antral pressure waves. After t he second meal no significant effects of ABT-229 were found. Conclusio ns: A single dose of the new motilin agonist ABT-229 strongly increase s the gastric emptying rate in healthy volunteers by increasing the st rength and length of propagation of antral pressure waves. ABT-229 has the potential to become a new prokinetic drug.