CLINICAL TRIALS PROFILE FOR BARIUM SULFATE

All Clinical Trials for BARIUM SULFATE

Trial ID	Title	Status	Sponsor	Phase	Start Date	Summary
NCT01379183 ↗	Using Magnetic Resonance (MR) to Understand the Effect of Erythromycin on Bowel Motility	Completed	National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)	Phase 2/Phase 3	2011-06-01	Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) has proven to be a valuable imaging technique for suspected small bowel disease. This technique depends, in part, on adequate distension of the small bowel. This is accomplished by administering large volumes of a non-absorbable oral contrast material prior to the examination, which typically produces excellent distension of the distal small bowel and stomach, but poor distension of the proximal small bowel. Erythromycin is a common antibiotic that is known to promote stomach emptying and is used to treat diabetics with gastroparesis (poor stomach emptying.) The hypothesis of this study was that erythromycin will increase gastric emptying and hence improve small and large intestinal distention during MRI.
NCT01379183 ↗	Using Magnetic Resonance (MR) to Understand the Effect of Erythromycin on Bowel Motility	Completed	Mayo Clinic	Phase 2/Phase 3	2011-06-01	Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) has proven to be a valuable imaging technique for suspected small bowel disease. This technique depends, in part, on adequate distension of the small bowel. This is accomplished by administering large volumes of a non-absorbable oral contrast material prior to the examination, which typically produces excellent distension of the distal small bowel and stomach, but poor distension of the proximal small bowel. Erythromycin is a common antibiotic that is known to promote stomach emptying and is used to treat diabetics with gastroparesis (poor stomach emptying.) The hypothesis of this study was that erythromycin will increase gastric emptying and hence improve small and large intestinal distention during MRI.
NCT02542046 ↗	Uniformity of Oral Contrast Material in the Bowel	Completed	General Electric		2015-09-01	Although positive oral contrast agents are used for the majority of abdominopelvic CT scans in the United States, the quality of bowel opacification has not been compared between the three major classes of positive oral contrast material (barium sulfate, ionic iodinated contrast material, and non-ionic iodinate contrast material). This is a retrospective single institution study of clinical records to show whether the uniformity of bowel opacification is different between the three main types of positive CT oral contrast material used in the United States (Barium sulfate, Diatrizoate, and Iohexol). The investigators will retrospectively identify 250 patients each who received oral barium sulfate, diatrizoate, and iohexol for CT scanning of the abdomen and pelvis (total 750 patients) and assess the quality of bowel lumen opacification by the positive oral contrast agents.
NCT02542046 ↗	Uniformity of Oral Contrast Material in the Bowel	Completed	University of California, San Francisco		2015-09-01	Although positive oral contrast agents are used for the majority of abdominopelvic CT scans in the United States, the quality of bowel opacification has not been compared between the three major classes of positive oral contrast material (barium sulfate, ionic iodinated contrast material, and non-ionic iodinate contrast material). This is a retrospective single institution study of clinical records to show whether the uniformity of bowel opacification is different between the three main types of positive CT oral contrast material used in the United States (Barium sulfate, Diatrizoate, and Iohexol). The investigators will retrospectively identify 250 patients each who received oral barium sulfate, diatrizoate, and iohexol for CT scanning of the abdomen and pelvis (total 750 patients) and assess the quality of bowel lumen opacification by the positive oral contrast agents.
NCT06421389 ↗	Precise Endoscopic Application of Tranexamic Acid and Sucralfate in Gastrointestinal Bleeding: A Randomized Controlled Trial	COMPLETED	National Cheng-Kung University Hospital	NA	2024-08-15	Background and Aim: Gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) is a common problem in the hospital. GIB can be divided into upper GIB, small bowel bleeding, and lower GIB. Endoscopic hemostasis includes epinephrine injection, hemoclipping, heat probe coagulation, and Argon plasma coagulation. Although the successful hemostasis rate is high, recurrent bleeding can occur, ranging from 10% to 50% according to the bleeding etiology. Therefore, how to reduce the rebleeding of GIB is an important clinical issue. Methods: This is a randomized clinical trial. Patients with gastrointestinal bleeding for endoscopy screening and treatment at National Cheng Kung University Hospital were enrolled. The study will recruit 60 patients. After randomization, 30 patients will be classified into the intervention group and 30 into the control group. The participants will receive standard endoscopic hemostasis by either local injection of diluted epinephrine, heater probe coagulation, hemoclipping, or band ligation. After then, we will spray 2g of sucralfate powder and 1g of tranexamic acid through duodenoscopy precisely on the bleeding site in the intervention group. All enrolled patients will be monitored for rebleeding for 28 days after the first endoscopy.

Clinical Trial Conditions for BARIUM SULFATE

Condition Name

Condition Name for BARIUM SULFATE
Intervention	Trials
Bleed Ulcer	1
Healthy	1
Known or Suspected Abdominal Disease	1

Condition MeSH

Condition MeSH for BARIUM SULFATE
Intervention	Trials

Clinical Trial Locations for BARIUM SULFATE

Trials by Country

Trials by Country for BARIUM SULFATE
Location	Trials
United States	2
Taiwan	1

Trials by US State

Trials by US State for BARIUM SULFATE
Location	Trials
California	1
Minnesota	1

Clinical Trial Progress for BARIUM SULFATE

Clinical Trial Phase

Clinical Trial Phase for BARIUM SULFATE
Clinical Trial Phase	Trials
Phase 2/Phase 3	1
NA	1

Clinical Trial Status

Clinical Trial Status for BARIUM SULFATE
Clinical Trial Phase	Trials
Completed	3

Clinical Trial Sponsors for BARIUM SULFATE

Sponsor Name

Sponsor Name for BARIUM SULFATE
Sponsor	Trials
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)	1
Mayo Clinic	1
General Electric	1

Sponsor Type

Sponsor Type for BARIUM SULFATE
Sponsor	Trials
Other	3
NIH	1
Industry	1

Barium Sulfate: Clinical Trials Update and Market Outlook

Last updated: May 7, 2026

Barium sulfate is a prescription imaging contrast agent used primarily for GI radiography and other diagnostic radiology applications. It is not a “drug candidate” with an interventional clinical development pipeline in the same way as new molecular entities, because most commercial barium sulfate products are generic formulations used under existing labeling and manufacturing standards. As a result, the practical market story is driven by: (1) sourcing and supply of USP-grade barium sulfate, (2) manufacturing scale and compliance, and (3) radiology utilization patterns rather than phase-to-phase efficacy trials.

What is barium sulfate used for in clinical practice?

Barium sulfate is administered orally or rectally for radiographic imaging to improve contrast in the gastrointestinal tract. In practice, it is used in:

• GI tract imaging (oral barium sulfate suspensions and rectal barium sulfate preparations)
• Diagnostic radiology workflows where barium contrast is indicated per local clinical pathways

Market dynamics are closely tied to endoscopy substitution, imaging volume, and hospital radiology budget cycles. For investors or R&D planners, the key point is that “clinical trials updates” typically show up as formulation stability, imaging performance in specific use cases, and comparative equivalence work rather than new mechanism-of-action proof.

What do clinical trial updates look like for barium sulfate?

For established contrast agents like barium sulfate, the clinical trial footprint typically skews toward:

• Formulation equivalence and non-inferiority (e.g., imaging quality endpoints, tolerability profiles, and manufacturability)
• Stability and shelf-life
• Safety monitoring in labeled populations

A full, audit-grade “clinical trials update” normally requires extracting current active studies, recruitment status, phase designations, and endpoint results from trial registries. That level of specificity depends on authoritative registry data. Without a registry dataset tied to specific barium sulfate products, it is not possible to state accurate, date-stamped trial statuses, comparators, or outcomes.

Market analysis: who buys barium sulfate and what drives demand?

Barium sulfate is purchased by hospitals, imaging centers, and wholesalers through radiology supply channels. Demand is driven by:

• Imaging utilization: number of GI radiology studies performed
• Local guideline preferences: settings where barium remains common versus where CT colonography or endoscopy predominates
• Competitive contrast mix: barium sulfate versus iodinated contrast (where appropriate) and versus alternative GI contrast options
• Supply chain and compliance: availability of consistent, USP-grade material and sterile or non-sterile formulation standards depending on product type

Market drivers vs. constraints

Category	What moves demand	What constrains it
Utilization	GI imaging volumes and diagnostic throughput	Shift toward CT/endoscopy reducing barium study share
Product economics	Tenders and bulk purchasing pricing	Manufacturer compliance costs, raw material variability
Product performance	Image quality consistency and patient tolerability	Variation in suspension properties affecting radiographic outcomes
Regulatory and quality	Label adherence and batch release reliability	Any safety signal or recall risk affects procurement patterns

How should market projection be modeled for barium sulfate?

For a mature contrast agent, projections typically use a utilization-based approach rather than a “pipeline” approach. A practical projection model uses:

1. Base demand from current imaging volumes (GI radiology encounters translated into contrast doses).
2. Share dynamics versus alternative modalities (endoscopy, CT-based strategies, other GI contrast pathways).
3. Price and tender cycle effects (generic pricing compression versus localized supply tightening).
4. Regulatory and quality events (recalls or manufacturing outages reduce short-term supply and can shift share temporarily).

Projection structure (quantitative template)

• Volume (studies) = total GI imaging volume × barium share × dose per study
• Revenue = volume × net price (after tender discounts)
• Net price = baseline generic pricing trend + supply/competition effects

Because barium sulfate is mature, the largest upside or downside usually comes from changes in modality mix and institutional tender outcomes, not from new efficacy differentiation.

Competitive landscape: what matters for suppliers?

The competitive set for barium sulfate is generally shaped by:

• Generic manufacturers and formulation specialists
• Local distributors with tender relationships
• Regulatory approvals and quality system maturity
• Consistency of suspension performance (particle size distribution and re-suspendability are operationally important in radiology)

Where R&D focus typically lands

R&D for barium sulfate products is usually centered on:

• Formulation stability (sedimentation control and re-dispersibility)
• Viscosity and palatability for oral products
• Radiographic performance under routine workflow constraints
• Packaging and dosing (unit dose formats, shelf-life, and temperature handling)

Regulatory and labeling considerations

Barium sulfate products are governed by manufacturing and labeling rules that vary by jurisdiction. Key procurement and clinical drivers include:

• Product labeling alignment with imaging indications
• Batch release consistency
• Quality documentation aligned to pharmacopeial requirements and hospital QA frameworks

Clinical trial vs. product performance evidence: what is investable?

For barium sulfate, “trial updates” often do not create a discontinuous value step like a new drug would. The investable levers tend to be:

• Manufacturing throughput and yield
• Quality system performance and audit outcomes
• Supply assurance and continuity of contract manufacturing
• Formulation product line expansion into higher-margin or higher-volume formats
• Institutional formulary inclusion through procurement cycles

Key market takeaways

• Barium sulfate demand is utilization-driven and tied to radiology practice patterns.
• Clinical evidence is largely mature and formulation-centric, not mechanism-discovery-driven.
• Supplier differentiation is driven by manufacturing reliability, quality, and tender economics more than by phase-based clinical trial breakthroughs.
• Market projections should be built on modality mix and imaging volumes rather than pipeline forecasts.

Key Takeaways

1. Barium sulfate is a mature GI imaging contrast agent; market dynamics follow radiology utilization and tender economics.
2. Clinical trial activity is typically formulation and performance oriented, not phase-to-phase novelty.
3. Forecasting should model imaging volume × barium share × dose × net price, with modality shift as the main variable.
4. Competitive advantage usually comes from supply stability, quality execution, and formulation performance consistency rather than new clinical efficacy claims.

FAQs

1. Is barium sulfate still in active clinical development like a new drug?
   No. Most barium sulfate market products are mature, with evidence and updates that typically focus on formulation performance, equivalence, and safety monitoring within labeled use.

2. What drives barium sulfate market growth or decline?
   GI radiology utilization, institutional preference relative to CT/endoscopy, and tender-driven net pricing.

3. What types of product improvements tend to matter for procurement?
   Consistent re-suspendability, suspension stability, imaging quality reliability under routine use, and straightforward dosing formats.

4. How should an investor forecast barium sulfate revenue?
   Use utilization-based modeling with modality mix and share assumptions, then apply net price trends from tender outcomes.

5. What is the biggest operational risk for barium sulfate suppliers?
   Manufacturing reliability and batch-to-batch quality consistency that affect hospital trust, supply continuity, and regulatory standing.

References

[1] FDA. (n.d.). Drug approvals and regulatory information (barium sulfate products; device/drug listings vary by product and applicant). U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
[2] EMA. (n.d.). European public assessment reports and product information (searchable by active substance and product). European Medicines Agency.
[3] ClinicalTrials.gov. (n.d.). Search results for “barium sulfate” (trial status and endpoints depend on specific studies and product formulations). U.S. National Library of Medicine.
[4] USP. (n.d.). USP pharmacopeial standards (barium sulfate requirements by monograph and related quality criteria). United States Pharmacopeia.