An Open-Label, Long-term Study to Assess the Immunogenicity of LINZESS® (Linaclotide) Administered Orally to Adult Participants With Irritable Bowel Syndrome With Constipation or Chronic Idiopathic Constipation

This study includes up to a 3-week Screening Period, followed by a 52-week treatment period. Participants with CIC meeting the entry criteria received linaclotide 145 μg capsules, orally, once daily and participants with IBS-C meeting the entry criteria received linaclotide 290 μg capsules, orally, once daily. Participants with intolerable Adverse Events (AEs), following resolution of the AEs, could be randomized to receive 290 μg, 145 μg, or the lower dose of 72 μg linaclotide oral capsules for IBS-C; and 145 μg or 72 μg for CIC. Participants who experienced further intolerable AEs after the randomization could be transitioned to open-label 72 μg linaclotide.

Inclusion criteria

• Participants meet the Rome III criteria for IBS-C or CIC:
• IBS-C Criteria: the participant must meet the following 2 criteria (A and B).

A. IBS Criteria: The participant must have abdominal pain or discomfort at least 3 days per month in the 3 months before diagnosis (with symptom onset at least 6 months before diagnosis) associated with 2 or more of the following:

• Improvement with defecation.
• Onset associated with a change in frequency of stool.
• Onset associated with a change in form (appearance) of stool. B. Stool Consistency Requirement: During the 3 months before diagnosis in the absence of laxative or enema use, the patient has hard or lumpy stools (Bristol Stool Form Scale [BSFS] score 1 or 2) with at least 25% of bowel movements (BMs) and has loose or mushy stools (BSFS 5 or 6) with <25% of BMs.

• CIC Criteria: the participant must meet the following 3 criteria (A, B, and C):

A. Participant meets 2 or more of the following criteria for 3 months before the diagnosis with symptom onset at least 6 months before diagnosis:

• Straining during at least 25% of defecations.
• Lumpy or hard stools in at least 25% of defecations.
• Sensation of incomplete evacuation for at least 25% of defecations.
• Sensation of anorectal obstruction/blockage for at least 25% of defecations.
• Manual maneuvers to facilitate at least 25% of defecations (e.g., digital evacuation, support of the pelvic floor).
• Fewer than 3 defecations per week. B. Loose stools are rarely present without the use of laxatives. C. Insufficient criteria for irritable bowel syndrome. (The criteria for IBS are provided in Point A under IBS Criteria, above).

• Participant meets the colonoscopy requirements, which are modified from the Summary of the US-Multi-Society Task Force on Colorectal Cancer and other Colonoscopy Requirements.
• Participant has successfully completed protocol procedures (with no clinically significant findings).

Exclusion criteria

• At Day 1 visit, the participant reports having 6 or more spontaneous bowel movements (SBMs) in the week prior to screening.
• At Day 1 visit, the participant reports having any SBMs that were watery (BSFS=7) or more than 1 SBM that was mushy (BSFS=6) in the week prior to screening.
• Participant has a structural abnormality of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract or a disease or condition that can affect GI motility.
• Participant has any protocol excluded or clinically significant medical or surgical history that would limit the patient's ability to complete or participate in this clinical trial or could confound the study assessments.
• Participant has ever received linaclotide as a treatment (including commercially-available product) or has been randomized into any clinical study in which linaclotide was a treatment. (participant who enrolled into linaclotide clinical studies conducted prior or during this study but failed to be randomized are eligible for the current study).
• Participant has ever received plecanatide, SP-333, or has participated in a plecanatide clinical study.