At a glance
| Product | Gattex; Revestive |
|---|---|
| Target | GLP-2 receptor |
| Population | SBS requiring parenteral support |
| Age scope | 1 year and older in the U.S. |
| Route | Subcutaneous injection |
Overview
Gattex is used in adults and children aged one year and older with short bowel syndrome who require parenteral support. The clinical problem is loss of enough functioning bowel to maintain fluid or nutrition without intravenous assistance. Treatment aims to improve absorption and reduce that dependence under specialist management. Some patients become independent of support, but that is not guaranteed, and anatomy and baseline needs influence response. Teduglutide is not approved for routine IBS, nonspecific intestinal permeability, or recovery from ordinary digestive discomfort, despite being described as a gut-directed peptide.
How it works
Teduglutide activates the GLP-2 receptor and promotes intestinal adaptation, including changes in mucosal growth and absorption. A substitution makes it more resistant to enzymatic breakdown than native GLP-2. Increased absorption can improve fluid and nutrient handling, but can also alter exposure to oral medicines and create fluid overload if parenteral support is not reassessed. Its growth-promoting biology explains the attention to intestinal neoplasia.
The condition it treats
Short bowel syndrome with dependence on parenteral support is the labeled condition. The objective is improved intestinal absorption and reduced support needs, not simply a change in stool frequency or an improvement in a nonspecific digestive symptom score.
Supporting sources [1]
Reduction in support requirements
Clinical trials and their extensions measured reductions in parenteral-support volume and days of support. Some participants achieved enteral autonomy over extended treatment. These outcomes require careful accounting of fluid and nutrition rather than interpreting weight gain alone as recovery.
Growth-related and gastrointestinal risks
The label warns about possible acceleration of neoplastic growth, intestinal obstruction and gallbladder, biliary or pancreatic disease. Baseline and follow-up gastrointestinal surveillance are part of the treatment framework, with age-specific recommendations.
Supporting sources [1]
Fluids and other medicines
Greater absorption can cause fluid overload or worsen heart failure if support is not adjusted. It can also increase absorption of oral drugs, especially important for medicines with a narrow therapeutic range. Changes or discontinuation require reassessment of fluid and electrolyte balance.
Supporting sources [1]
Why specialist nutrition care remains necessary
A lower prescribed support volume is beneficial only if hydration, kidney function, nutritional status and daily function remain adequate. Teduglutide supports intestinal rehabilitation; it does not replace the ongoing assessment of the remaining bowel and overall nutritional needs.
Reading this profile
Jurisdiction: United States — FDA-approved prescription medicine; indication and formulation restrictions apply.. Molecular class: Glucagon-like peptide-2 analog.
This profile was written with AI-assisted research and checked against the linked sources. It has not been represented as a clinician’s review. Evidence summaries describe the cited studies and products; they do not establish that a separately purchased preparation is equivalent.
Sources & references
Follow the original material. Product labels define specific formulations and uses; trial registration describes a study and does not by itself establish benefit.
- DailyMed: Gattex prescribing information ↗Regulatory source · Checked 2026-10-27
- Long-Term Teduglutide for the Treatment of Patients With Intestinal Failure Associated With Short Bowel Syndrome. ↗Original research · Checked 2026-10-27