New hope for IBS-D patients: Professor Tan Hor Yue awarded HMRF to evaluate Chinese herbal formulation CDD-2103

Professor Tan Hor Yue, Associate Professor, Centre for Chinese Herbal Medicine Drug Development Limited, received HK$ 1,486,000 from the Health and Medical Research Fund under the Health Bureau.

The award project, “The efficacy and safety of a Chinese herbal formulation CDD-2103 for patients with Irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS-D): a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial”, aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the Chinese herbal formulation CDD-2103 in treating irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhoea (IBS-D) over a 12-week period. 

The team, formed by researchers from HKBU and the Chinese University of Hong Kong, hypothesise that CDD-2103 is effective and well tolerated in patients with IBS-D.

A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial will evaluate the efficacy and safety of CDD-2103 granules for the treatment of diarrhoea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D). The study plans to enrol 150 diagnosed participants, who will be randomised in a 1:1 ratio to receive either the active CDD-2103 medication or a taste-matched placebo twice daily. The trial spans an 8-week intervention period followed by a 4-week follow-up phase, encompassing a total of six scheduled clinical visits to monitor patient progress.

To measure the intervention's effectiveness, the primary outcome will focus on the proportion of participants achieving a composite response at week eight, defined as a greater than 30% reduction in abdominal pain and improved stool consistency for at least half of the treatment period. Researchers will utilise validated tools, such as the Bristol Stool Scale and IBS quality-of-life questionnaires, to track secondary outcomes, alongside routine laboratory tests and adverse event monitoring to ensure safety. Based on preclinical data, the research team anticipates that statistical analysis will reveal CDD-2103 to have a favourable safety profile while demonstrating significant efficacy in reducing IBS-D symptoms compared to the placebo.

Professor Tan’s research profile: https://scholars.hkbu.edu.hk/en/persons/HYHTAN