title: Balsalazide: a novel 5-aminosalicylate prodrug for the treatment of active ulcerative colitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  5-Aminosalicylate (5-ASA) agents are the mainstay of oral therapy for ulcerative colitis (UC). Balsalazide, a prodrug of 5-ASA, has recently been approved for the treatment of UC.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To summarize current data on balsalazide and to discuss its impact on management of UC.
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic review of published literature was performed on PubMed using the search terms 'Balsalazide' and 'Colazal(TM)'. The Cochrane database was also reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Balsalzide, a 5-ASA prodrug, ulilizes azoreduction by colonic bacteria to achieve a sustained release of active 5-ASA throughout the colon. A recent clinical trial has demonstrated balsalazide 6.7 g/day to be superior to placebo in inducing remission in symptomatic UC. The drug is well tolerated with a safety profile comparable to other oral 5-ASA agents. The current data suggests that symptomatic remission occurs with both greater swiftness and greater frequency when compared with mesalamine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Balsalazide is approved for the treatment of mild-to-moderate active UC. It is efficacious for the induction of remission in mild to moderate UC and has a favorable safety profile, with the added advantages of greater efficacy of remission induction and rapidity of onset.
authors.affiliation: Stony Brook University Medical Center, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, HSC, T17, Rm 060, SUNY, Stonybrook, NY 11794-8173, USA.
authors.forename: Jon Brendan
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Wiggins
authors.forename: Ramona
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rajapakse
mesh_terms: D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D019804:Mesalamine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010659:Phenylhydrazines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011355:Prodrugs; D012074:Remission Induction / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D010659:Phenylhydrazines; D011355:Prodrugs; D019804:Mesalamine; C038637:balsalazide