Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease News and Research

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Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a more serious form of gastroesophageal reflux (GER), which is common. GER occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) opens spontaneously, for varying periods of time, or does not close properly and stomach contents rise up into the esophagus. GER is also called acid reflux or acid regurgitation, because digestive juices—called acids—rise up with the food. The esophagus is the tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach. The LES is a ring of muscle at the bottom of the esophagus that acts like a valve between the esophagus and stomach.

New finding reveals Barrett's esophagus in asymptomatic women undergoing endoscopic screening

In the November issue of GIE: Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, the monthly peer-reviewed scientific journal of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE), a study out of Stanford University found that Barrett's esophagus was detected in six percent of asymptomatic women undergoing endoscopic screening.

24 Nov 2009

GERD is an immune-mediated injury and not the result of acid burn, says new study

Contrary to current thinking, a condition called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) might not develop as a direct result of acidic digestive juices burning the esophagus, UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers have found in an animal study.

20 Nov 2009

New incisionless GERD treatment under trial

Every day, more than 20 percent of the U.S. population experiences the painful burning symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). For these 20 million Americans, the first line of defense is medication. To find a long-term, permanent solution for this nagging condition, the Center for the Future of Surgery at UC San Diego Medical Center is leading a multicenter clinical trial to test the safety and effectiveness of a new incisionless GERD treatment.

11 Nov 2009

Barrett's esophagus patients are at no greater risk of dying from esophageal cancer

New Mayo Clinic research has found that survival rates of patients with Barrett's esophagus, which can be a precursor for esophageal cancer, are no different than the survival rates for the general population. These findings were presented today at the 2009 American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) Annual Meeting in San Diego.

28 Oct 2009

New data on KAPIDEX for nighttime heartburn in adults with non-erosive GERD presented at the 2009 ACG

New data being presented at the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) 2009 Annual Scientific Meeting in San Diego showed that treatment with KAPIDEX(TM) (dexlansoprazole) delayed release capsules over a four-week period resulted in a statistically significant greater percentage of nights without heartburn in subjects with non-erosive gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), compared to placebo (p<0.001).

27 Oct 2009

Barrett's esophagus patients are at no greater risk of dying than the rest of the population

New Mayo Clinic research has found that survival rates of patients with Barrett's esophagus, (http://www.mayoclinic.org/barretts-esophagus/) which can be a precursor for esophageal cancer, are no different than the survival rates for the general population. These findings were presented today at the 2009 American College of Gastroenterology (http://www.acg.gi.org/) (ACG) Annual Meeting in San Diego.

27 Oct 2009

Santarus to present results from two investigator-initiated studies with ZEGERID at 2009 ACG meeting

Santarus, Inc., a specialty biopharmaceutical company, today announced that positive data from two investigator-initiated studies with ZEGERID® (omeprazole/sodium bicarbonate) will be presented in poster sessions at the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) 2009 Annual Scientific Meeting taking place in San Diego. These studies were supported by grants from Santarus.

26 Oct 2009

Researchers elucidate the effect of nutritional parameters in long-term PPI therapy

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is the most common esophageal disorder, and frequently encountered in the primary care setting. Accumulating evidence has confirmed the excellent efficacy and safety of proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy in patients with all grades of GERD, making these agents the mainstay of treatment.

24 Oct 2009

XenoPort commences Phase 2b arbaclofen placarbil clinical trial for treating gastroesophageal reflux disease

XenoPort, Inc. announced today that it has initiated a Phase 2b clinical trial of arbaclofen placarbil (AP), also known as XP19986, in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) who remain symptomatic despite treatment with a proton pump inhibitor (PPI). The trial is a multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study designed to assess the efficacy and safety of AP as adjunctive therapy to PPIs.

19 Oct 2009

Mayo Clinic scientists conduct clinical study on functional dyspesia patients

"Nerve cells are found throughout the body, and just as their dysfunction in the brain can cause depression, we suspect overly sensitive nerves in the gut can produce this very uncomfortable indigestion," says Nicholas Talley, M.D., Ph.D., chair of the trial and chair of the Department of Internal Medicine at the Mayo Clinic campus in Florida.

18 Sep 2009

METOZOLV drug approved for treating gastroesophageal reflux disease

Wilmington Pharmaceuticals announced today the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted marketing approval for METOZOLV ODT (metoclopramide HCl), an orally disintegrating formulation of metoclopramide for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and diabetic gastroparesis.

10 Sep 2009

FDA approves Salix' METOZOLV ODT for treating diabetic gastroparesis

Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. (NASDAQ:SLXP) today announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted marketing approval for METOZOLV™ ODT (metoclopramide HCl) 5mg and 10mg orally disintegrating tablets. METOZOLV ODT is indicated for the relief of symptoms in adults associated with acute and recurrent diabetic gastroparesis and for the treatment of short-term therapy (4-12 weeks) for adults with symptomatic documented gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) who fail to respond to conventional therapy1.

9 Sep 2009

Nighttime acid reflux symptoms impair sleep quality

There has been much debate about the relationship between gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and sleep. Three new studies in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology explore GERD's effect on sleep quality and the health-care system as well as how a widely prescribed sleeping pill may mask the disease.

1 Sep 2009

SFDA approves China Pharma Holdings' generic Omeprazole Sodium injection

China Pharma Holdings, Inc., which develops, manufactures, and markets specialty pharmaceutical products in China, today announced that it has received approval from the Chinese State Food and Drug Administration ("SFDA) for the production of generic Omeprazole Sodium injections.

19 Aug 2009

Success of GERD therapy hinges on medication type and physician bedside manner

Patient satisfaction with their medications and the quality of interactions with their doctor reflect the success of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) therapy, according to a new study in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, the official journal of the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Institute.

3 Aug 2009

Radiofrequency ablation reverses Barrett's esophagus

Patients who have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) for a prolonged period have an increased risk of developing Barrett's esophagus, a pre-cancerous condition where the tissue lining the esophagus becomes damaged by stomach acid and transformed into something like the inside of the stomach. New research finds that radiofrequency ablation -- an endoscopic procedure involving targeted thermal energy -- was very successful at restoring the esophagus and reducing risk for cancer.

2 Jun 2009

Obesity predicts inadequate bowel prep at colonoscopy

Obesity is an independent predictor of inadequate bowel preparation at colonoscopy, and the presence of additional risk factors further increases the likelihood of a poorly cleansed colon, according to a new study in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, the official journal of the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Institute.

1 Jun 2009

Researchers investigate link between gastroesophageal reflux diseases and coronary heart diseases

It is well known that non-cardiac chest pain is closely related to gastroesophageal reflux diseases (GERD).

20 Apr 2009

Torax Medical launches study of new LINX Reflux management system

Torax Medical Inc., a medical device company focused on the minimally invasive treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) has commenced a pivotal clinical trial of its LINX Reflux Management System.

5 Apr 2009

URMC to trial minimally invasive device that 'reins in' acid reflux

The University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) is one of 15 specialized sites across the U.S. and Europe gearing up to trial a new implantable device that could bring relief to the estimated 25 million American adults who suffer from daily heartburn.

4 Apr 2009