Ironwood Pharmaceuticals is dedicated to advancing the treatment of gastrointestinal (GI) diseases through innovative drug discovery and development. The company focuses on addressing significant unmet medical needs in the GI space, leveraging its expertise to create effective therapies. One of their key products in development is apraglutide, an investigational GLP-2 analog aimed at treating Short Bowel Syndrome with intestinal failure (SBS-IF), a condition that severely impacts nutrient absorption and quality of life. Additionally, Ironwood is developing IW-3300, a GC-C agonist targeting visceral pain conditions such as interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) and endometriosis, both of which currently have limited treatment options.

Ironwood Pharmaceuticals emphasizes a patient-centered approach, ensuring that the voices of diverse patient populations are heard and integrated into their research and development processes. The company is committed to reducing healthcare inequities and enhancing patient engagement through initiatives like workshops and partnerships with advocacy groups. Their clinical trials are designed to minimize patient burden and improve access to investigational drugs, reflecting their dedication to improving outcomes for individuals suffering from GI diseases. Through these efforts, Ironwood aims to redefine the standard of care and provide meaningful solutions for patients in need.

United States

At Ironwood Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: IRWD) our vision is clear: to bring new, differentiated therapies to the millions of patients who live with GI diseases.

Building on a strong, decades-long foundation, the next leg of our journey continues with two innovative assets. Our in-market product, LINZESS® (linaclotide), discovered in-house, is the branded prescription market leader in its class. We are also pioneering the science behind our development program IW-3718 which aims to address highly symptomatic GI conditions with significant unmet needs.

Ironwood was founded in 1998 out of the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, an affiliate of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and we remain headquartered in the vibrant biotech community of Cambridge, Mass. Each of our employees holds equity in the company, which means we all share the responsibility to help Ironwood succeed. 

Digestive System Diseases

Ironwood Pharmaceuticals

Bowel disorder

Inflammatory bowel disease

Irritable bowel syndrome

Linaclotide is structurally related to human guanylin and uroguanylin and functions as a guanylate cyclase-C (GC-C) agonist. Both linaclotide and its active metabolite bind to GC-C and act locally on the luminal surface of the intestinal epithelium. Activation of GC-C results in an increase in both intracellular and extracellular concentrations of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). Elevation in intracellular cGMP stimulates secretion of chloride and bicarbonate into the intestinal lumen, mainly through activation of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) ion channel, resulting in increased intestinal fluid and accelerated transit. In animal models, linaclotide has been shown to both accelerate GI transit and reduce intestinal pain (<a href="https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2017/202811s013lbl.pdf">see FDA Label</a>).&nbsp;

Linzess® (linaclotide)

Constipation

Linzess® (linaclotide) 

Short bowel syndrome

Apraglutide* is an investigational drug being developed as a once-weekly treatment for patients who have SBS with intestinal failure (SBS-IF). It is a next-generation, long-acting, synthetic GLP-2 analog that acts as a selective, full agonist of the GLP-2 receptor.

Apraglutide (agonist of the GLP-2 receptor)

Short bowel syndrome with  colon-in-continuity

Apraglutide* is an investigational drug being developed as a once-weekly treatment for patients who have SBS with intestinal failure (SBS-IF). It is a next-generation, long-acting, synthetic GLP-2 analog that acts as a selective, full agonist of the GLP-2 receptor.

Linaclotide was discovered as a result of Ironwood’s pioneering research on the intestinal enzyme guanylate cyclase-C (GC-C) and went on to become the first GC-C agonist approved in the U.S., establishing GC-C agonists as a new class of medicines.
 
GC-C is found mainly on the surface of the intestine and is thought to be a potential target for a variety of gastrointestinal diseases. Ironwood developed an orally available peptide – linaclotide – that selectively hits this target and can survive the harsh acidic environment of the stomach to reach GC-C in the intestine.

Linaclotide

Acute graft-versus host disease

Apraglutide (agonist of the GLP-2 receptor) 

Endometriosis

Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome

Visceral pain

IW-3300 – a  GC-C agonist -  for the potential treatment of visceral pain conditions, such as interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) and endometriosis.

Ironwood Pharmaceuticals

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