Claims for Patent: 8,946,262

Summary for Patent: 8,946,262

Title:	Methods of preventing and treating gastrointestinal dysfunction
Abstract:	Methods of preventing and treating gastrointestinal dysfunction, particularly postoperative ileus and post-partum ileus, in a patient undergoing surgery or other biological stress by administering 4-aryl-piperidine derivatives are disclosed.
Inventor(s):	Christ; David D (Newark, DE), Wallin; Bruce A (Haverford, PA), Garver; Deanne D (Downingtown, PA), Schmidt; William K (Davis, CA), Jackson; David (Cape Coral, FL)
Assignee:	Adolor Corporation (Lexington, MA)
Application Number:	10/999,054
Patent Claims:	1. A method of treating a gastrointestinal dysfunction in a patient undergoing surgery, comprising the step of: orally administering to the patient from about 30 minutes prior to surgery to 60 minutes prior to surgery about 12 mg of a compound which is [[2-[[-4-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-3,4-dimethylpiperidin-1-yl]methyl]-3-phenylpro- panoyl]amino]acetic acid or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or hydrate thereof. 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said compound is 2-[[(2S)-2-[[(3R,4R)-4-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-3,4-dimethylpiperidin-1-yl]methy- l]-3-phenyl-propanoyl]amino]acetic acid dihydrate. 3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the surgery is abdominal surgery. 4. A method of claim 3, wherein the gastrointestinal dysfunction is postoperative ileus. 5. A method of claim 2, wherein the compound is administered to the patient from about 30 minutes prior to surgery to less than 60 minutes prior to surgery. 6. A method of claim 2, wherein the compound is administered to the patient from about 30 minutes prior to surgery to less than 45 minutes prior to surgery.