Pancreatitis News and Research

RSS

Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas. The pancreas is a large gland behind the stomach and close to the duodenum—the first part of the small intestine. The pancreas secretes digestive juices, or enzymes, into the duodenum through a tube called the pancreatic duct. Pancreatic enzymes join with bile—a liquid produced in the liver and stored in the gallbladder—to digest food. The pancreas also releases the hormones insulin and glucagon into the bloodstream. These hormones help the body regulate the glucose it takes from food for energy.

Normally, digestive enzymes secreted by the pancreas do not become active until they reach the small intestine. But when the pancreas is inflamed, the enzymes inside it attack and damage the tissues that produce them.

Pancreatitis can be acute or chronic. Either form is serious and can lead to complications. In severe cases, bleeding, infection, and permanent tissue damage may occur.

Severe and necrotizing AP characterized by depletion of circulating lymphocytes

Mortality of patients with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) approaches 30%-40%. An imbalance between the early systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), and the later compensatory counter-inflammatory response, and development of multiple organ failure (MOF) are considered to be the primary causes of morbidity and mortality in SAP. Excessive leukocyte activation (including neutrophils and monocyte-macrophage lineage) with cytokinemia play a critical role in the pathogenesis of pancreatitis and even more so, of the subsequent inflammatory response.

20 Apr 2010

TGen, Asuragen sign microRNA technology agreement for pancreatic cancer research

The Translational Genomics Research Institute and Asuragen Inc. today announced a research agreement that could lead to ways of detecting cancer before it spreads.

17 Apr 2010

Pancreaze Delayed Release Capsules receive FDA approval

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Pancreaze Delayed Release Capsules, a pancreatic enzyme product. It is the third such product to receive FDA approval.

13 Apr 2010

Patients switching to Victoza experience further reductions in A1c and weight loss

Diabetes Care published online the results of the Novo Nordisk LEAD™ 6 extension study, which evaluated the efficacy and safety of switching from exenatide, which is taken twice a day, to once-daily Victoza®. Results show that when added to oral antidiabetes drugs, patients who switched from exenatide to Victoza experienced further reductions in A1c and weight loss.

31 Mar 2010

Insight into scorpion venom may help understand diseases like pancreatitis

A Brazilian scorpion has provided researchers at North Carolina State University and East Carolina University insight into venom's effects on the ability of certain cells to release critical components. The findings may prove useful in understanding diseases like pancreatitis or in targeted drug delivery.

30 Mar 2010

Resurgence of mumps orchitis among teenage boys and young men

Urologists at a leading Irish hospital have reported an alarming increase in the number of teenage boys and young men developing mumps orchitis, in a paper published in the April issue of the urology journal BJUI.

30 Mar 2010

NDA for BYDUREON: FDA issues complete response letter

Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Eli Lilly and Company and Alkermes, Inc. today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a complete response letter regarding the New Drug Application for BYDUREON™ (exenatide for extended-release injectable suspension).

15 Mar 2010

Study reveals molecular mechanism of pancreatic cancer

UCSF scientists have discovered how a mutated gene known as Kras is able to hijack mouse cells damaged by acute pancreatitis, putting them on the path to becoming pancreatic cancer cells.

15 Mar 2010

ACCORD Lipid trial: New research into atherogenic dyslipidemia in type 2 diabetes

Cardiovascular risk can be reduced by an additional 31 percent in type 2 diabetes patients with atherogenic dyslipidemia, the common combination of elevated triglycerides (TG, 204 mg/dL or 2.3 mmol/L or higher) and low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C, 34 mg/dL or 0.88 mmol/L or lower).

15 Mar 2010

HealthGrades America’s 50 Best Hospitals for 2010 identified

The HealthGrades America’s 50 Best Hospitals for 2010 were identified in a report issued today by the leading independent healthcare ratings organization. The analysis, which examined objective patient outcomes over three years at all 5,000 of the nation’s nonfederal hospitals, found that the 50 Best Hospitals had mortality rates that were, on average, 27% lower than other hospitals.

25 Feb 2010

Signaling molecules may link certain actions of B cells to solid tumor growth: Study

Cancer researchers studying the immune system have identified a previously unrecognized set of targets and biomarkers to battle solid tumors.

25 Feb 2010

Novartis' Tasigna capsules granted priority review by FDA for treatment of adult patients with Ph+ CML

Novartis announced today that Tasigna® (nilotinib) 200 mg capsules has been granted priority review by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of adult patients with newly diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia (Ph+ CML) in chronic phase.

19 Feb 2010

Study demonstrates usefulness of salivary diagnostics in finding pancreatic cancer

The good news is that there may soon be a new weapon in the battle against the so-called "worst" cancer - cancer of the pancreas. A multidisciplinary group of investigators from the UCLA School of Dentistry, the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, the UCLA School of Public Health and UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center has demonstrated the usefulness of salivary diagnostics in the effort to find and fight the disease.

17 Feb 2010

Abbott acquires Belgium-based Solvay Pharmaceuticals for $6.2 billion

Abbott today announced that it has completed its EUR 4.5 billion ($6.2 billion) acquisition of Belgium-based Solvay Pharmaceuticals, providing Abbott with a large and complementary portfolio of pharmaceutical products and expanding Abbott's presence in key global emerging markets.

16 Feb 2010

FDA grants approval for Abbott's antiretroviral medication Norvir

Abbott announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted approval of a new tablet formulation of the company's antiretroviral medication Norvir ® (ritonavir). The new Norvir tablets can be stored at room temperature and do not require refrigeration, making it more convenient for patients.

11 Feb 2010

CREON effective in improving CFA and CNA in pediatric patients with EPI due to CF

Solvay Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that Phase IIIb data published in the January issue of Clinical Therapeutics confirm that CREON® (pancrelipase) Delayed-Release Capsules significantly improves a key measure of fat absorption in children aged 7-11 years who have exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) due to cystic fibrosis (CF), EPI is a condition resulting from a deficiency in the production and/or secretion of pancreatic enzymes that are necessary to digest nutrients in food.

5 Feb 2010

Patients with mild gallstone pancreatitis can be operated within 48 hours of admission

Patients with mild gallstone pancreatitis usually stay in the hospital for several days, waiting for the symptoms to subside, before undergoing surgery to remedy the condition. A new study from researchers at Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute (LA BioMed) indicates patients may no longer have to wait so long for surgery and could leave the hospital sooner.

5 Feb 2010

Hundred millions for biotech-licence

Apeiron Biologics AG (Apeiron) today announced the signing of an agreement granting GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) exclusive rights to APN01 (recombinant human Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2, rhACE2), an enzyme biotherapeutic currently in Phase 1 development for the treatment of the Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS).

3 Feb 2010

Asuragen enters into research agreements to develop microRNA-based diagnostic test

Asuragen, Inc., a leader in molecular diagnostics and RNA-based pharmacogenomics services, announced today that it has entered into research agreements with The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Dartmouth’s Hitchcock Medical Center and the University of Sherbrooke to develop a microRNA-based diagnostic test to aid the detection of pancreatic cancer from fine-needle aspirate (FNA) biopsies.

1 Feb 2010

MPM Capital leads Alnara Pharmaceuticals' $35M Series B venture capital financing

Alnara Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a pharmaceutical company developing non-systemic, orally-delivered protein therapeutics for the treatment of metabolic diseases, announced today that it has secured $35 million in Series B venture capital financing. The round was led by new investor MPM Capital, joined by current investors Third Rock Ventures, Frazier Healthcare and Bessemer Venture Partners. In conjunction with the MPM investment, managing director Ashley Dombkowski, Ph.D., will join Alnara’s board of directors.

28 Jan 2010

Pancreatitis News and Research

Further Reading

Severe and necrotizing AP characterized by depletion of circulating lymphocytes

TGen, Asuragen sign microRNA technology agreement for pancreatic cancer research

Pancreaze Delayed Release Capsules receive FDA approval

Patients switching to Victoza experience further reductions in A1c and weight loss

Insight into scorpion venom may help understand diseases like pancreatitis

Resurgence of mumps orchitis among teenage boys and young men

NDA for BYDUREON: FDA issues complete response letter

Study reveals molecular mechanism of pancreatic cancer

ACCORD Lipid trial: New research into atherogenic dyslipidemia in type 2 diabetes

HealthGrades America’s 50 Best Hospitals for 2010 identified

Signaling molecules may link certain actions of B cells to solid tumor growth: Study

Novartis' Tasigna capsules granted priority review by FDA for treatment of adult patients with Ph+ CML

Study demonstrates usefulness of salivary diagnostics in finding pancreatic cancer

Abbott acquires Belgium-based Solvay Pharmaceuticals for $6.2 billion

FDA grants approval for Abbott's antiretroviral medication Norvir

CREON effective in improving CFA and CNA in pediatric patients with EPI due to CF

Patients with mild gallstone pancreatitis can be operated within 48 hours of admission

Hundred millions for biotech-licence

Asuragen enters into research agreements to develop microRNA-based diagnostic test

MPM Capital leads Alnara Pharmaceuticals' $35M Series B venture capital financing

Industry Focus eBook - Cell biology (5th edition) eBook

Lab Matters host Harriet Gould on building a more connected lab community

The Critical Role of Sample Storage in Drug Discovery and Development

Advancing Neuroscience Research Through Collaboration and Patient-Centered Innovation

Latest News