Christine Frissora, MD, is an associate attending physician at New York-Presbyterian Hospital and an associate professor of clinical medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College.

Christine Frissora, MD

Christine Frissora, MD: Vibrant System’s Role in Chronic Idiopathic Constipation Care

New research is shining light on the cost-effectiveness of the Vibrant System for 

 management, highlighting reduced costs and improved quality-adjusted life years versus linaclotide.

In addition to lower costs and improved quality of life, findings showed patients on the Vibrant System experienced fewer side effects frequently observed with linaclotide and linked to treatment discontinuation, including diarrhea, abdominal pain, and abdominal distension.

A common lower GI tract disorder of gut-brain interaction, CIC affects approximately 8%–12% of the US population and can be associated with symptoms such as infrequent and incomplete defecation.

“We begin treating chronic idiopathic constipation with simple things like fiber, water, and exercise. In many patients, that doesn't work, so we move on to osmotic agents such as magnesium or polyethylene glycol,” Christine Frissora, MD, an associate attending physician at New York-Presbyterian Hospital and an associate professor of clinical medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College, explained to 

. “If those don't work, we have certain medications we can use, including linaclotide, but linaclotide can cause diarrhea and even fecal incontinence as a side effect. So we're trying to treat a patient with constipation, and then they develop other side effects and more problems.”

Vibrant, an orally administered drug-free capsule, was granted marketing authorization by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of adults with CIC in 2023. The drug-free treatment is thought to enhance colonic motility by augmenting the biological clock via mechanical stimulation of the colon.

The cost-effectiveness analysis compared the total cost and quality of life of the Vibrant System versus linaclotide over 1-3 years of treatment. Results showed the Vibrant System was associated with cost savings in both direct and indirect costs as well as improved quality of life.

Specifically, the analysis found improved persistence rates over time and reduced costs over 1 year when comparing the Vibrant System to linaclotide. For years 2 and 3, there were additional savings to the healthcare system and improved quality of life when using the Vibrant System.

“We think [Vibrant] could be a very good, effective first-line therapy for chronic idiopathic constipation,” Frissora said.

Editors’ note: Frissora has relevant disclosures with Vibrant Gastro.

Voigt JD, Frissora CL. Cost-Effectiveness of Vibrant System vs. Linaclotide in Chronic Idiopathic Constipation. 

. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12325-024-03035-0

Palsson OS, Whitehead W, Törnblom H, et al. Prevalence of Rome IV Functional Bowel Disorders Among Adults in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. 

Vibrant Gastro. FDA grants marketing authorization for Vibrant®, a new first-in-class, drug-free treatment for adults with chronic idiopathic constipation. August 30, 2022. Accessed December 19, 2024. https://www.vibrantgastro.com/press-releases-news/fda-grants-marketing-authorization-for-vibrant-a-new-first-in-class-drug-free-treatment-for-adults-with-chronic-idiopathic-constipation/

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Frissora reviews findings from a cost-effectiveness analysis comparing the Vibrant System to linaclotide for CIC management.

Christine Frissora, MD

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