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"cholestagel®" (Colesevelam)
Colesevelam is a bile acid sequestrant that binds bile acids in the intestine, preventing their reabsorption and increasing their fecal excretion.
Colesevelam is a bile acid sequestrant that binds bile acids in the intestine, preventing their reabsorption and increasing their fecal excretion. Used for Hypercholesterolemia (elevated LDL cholesterol), Type 2 diabetes mellitus (as adjunctive therapy).
At a glance
| Generic name | "cholestagel®" (Colesevelam) |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | University Hospital, Gentofte, Copenhagen |
| Drug class | Bile acid sequestrant |
| Target | Bile acids |
| Modality | Small molecule |
| Therapeutic area | Cardiovascular |
| Phase | FDA-approved |
Mechanism of action
By binding bile acids in the gastrointestinal tract, colesevelam reduces the enterohepatic circulation of bile acids. This triggers increased hepatic conversion of cholesterol to bile acids to replenish the bile acid pool, thereby lowering serum LDL cholesterol levels. The drug may also improve glycemic control through mechanisms involving altered bile acid signaling and gut microbiota changes.
Approved indications
- Hypercholesterolemia (elevated LDL cholesterol)
- Type 2 diabetes mellitus (adjunctive therapy for glycemic control)
Common side effects
- Constipation
- Dyspepsia
- Nausea
- Abdominal pain
- Flatulence
Key clinical trials
Primary sources
Every claim on this page is sourced from regulatory or scientific primary sources. See our editorial policy for full methodology.
| Source | Used for |
|---|---|
| ClinicalTrials.gov | Trial enrolment, design, endpoints, results |
Competitive intelligence
For the full competitive landscape — auto-detected comparators, recent regulatory actions across the set, upcoming PDUFA, patent timeline, sponsor landscape:
- "cholestagel®" (Colesevelam) CI brief — competitive landscape report
- "cholestagel®" (Colesevelam) updates RSS · CI watch RSS
- University Hospital, Gentofte, Copenhagen portfolio CI