MORRISVILLE, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Furiex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: FURX) today announced dosing of the first patient in its Phase III randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies evaluating efficacy, safety and tolerability of MuDelta (JNJ-27018966) in the treatment of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D). Furiex is conducting two simultaneous Phase III trials, one with a 52-week treatment period and one with a 30-week treatment period, in study centers in the United States, Canada and United Kingdom. Combined, the trials are expected to enroll approximately 2,250 patients.