[The Gut Trust]

Ever thought of taking part in a clinical trial? Synexus is looking for people to participate in a study to test a well-known, over-the-counter treatment for chronic constipation. If you are accepted onto the study you will be treated by our experienced doctors and nurses at our clinic which is dedicated purely to clinical research.

To join the study:

• You must be aged 18 years or older
• Suffer from constipation

Whilst some people may be cautious of becoming involved there are many potential benefits which can be sought from participation not least the fact that you are helping advance medical research in the particular field of study.

Speaking at a recent summit the Health Secretary himself, Mr Alan Johnson, advocated the benefits of medical research stating how 'We owe a great debt to the many thousands of people who have contributed over the years to the future health and well-being of us all.'

Participants in clinical research are able to take an active role in their own healthcare and may well access new drugs and interventions before they become more widely available.

There are seven sites based in the UK with the following six participating in the constipation study:

• Synexus Manchester
  Telephone: 0161 608 7790
  E-mail Address: manchester@synexus.com
• Synexus Merseyside
  Telephone: 0151 920 1555
  E-mail Address: merseyside@synexus.com
• Synexus Lancashire
  Telephone: 01772 819600
  E-mail Address: lancashire@synexus.com
• Synexus Midlands
  Telephone: 0121 414 0303
  E-mail Address: midlands@synexus.com
• Synexus Wales
  Telephone: 02920 764455
  E-mail Address: wales@synexus.com
• Synexus Scotland
  Telephone: 0141 951 5360
  E-mail Address: scotland@synexus.com

Those who register their interest in participating in a clinical trial will be contacted by telephone in order to determine suitability for the trial based on pre-determined criteria. Those deemed suitable are then invited to attend their local Synexus centre for a comprehensive health check, a face-to-face discussion with a nurse/doctor and to find out further information about the trial. At this point you will be given the opportunity to consider your involvement in the trial. If you decide to continue you will be invited back for a visit with one of the doctors or nurses and undergo additional health checks which may include a blood and/or urine test and possibly an ECG (the actual tests are dependent upon the study). The number of visits a patient is required to make to their Synexus centre is dependent upon the individual trial. All patients receive a high level of ongoing care and support throughout the lifetime of a trial and your GP will be kept up-to-date during the trial duration. All patients participating in clinical trials with Synexus receive a comprehensive and complimentary health check. Travel can be pre-arranged by Synexus or alternatively travel expenses will be re-imbursed.

If you would be interested in finding out more about the trial please contact your local Synexus Centre as detailed above.

For more information about clinical trials at Synexus please visit www.improvinghealth.com

About Synexus

Synexus is Europe's largest organisation recruiting for, and running, late phase clinical trials. Synexus recruits participants for clinical trials on behalf of pharmaceutical, biotech and medical device companies and CROs. The clinical trials are then run and managed by Synexus at purpose-designed hub sites across the UK, Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, India and South Africa. GCP-trained physicians staff the hub sites.