Bile News and Research

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Synergy expands GC-C agonist technology to lower cholesterol

Synergy Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a developer of new drugs to treat gastrointestinal (GI) disorders and diseases, announced today that it has successfully completed preclinical in vitro research demonstrating the inhibition of bile acid uptake by GC-C agonists and that it plans to commence animal studies shortly. Synergy believes this is the first time that GC-C agonists have been shown to potentially lower cholesterol.

18 May 2011

New drug targets bile acid to provide relief from constipation

Constipation is definitely not a glamorous topic. In reality, it affects nearly 30 million Americans and costs more than $1 billion annually to evaluate and treat. While not often life threatening, the pain, bloating, discomfort, and straining associated with constipation lead sufferers to focus on one thing - relief.

11 May 2011

CHOP forms first startup firm to develop treatments for peripheral artery disease

Building on its extensive laboratory research using magnetically guided nanoparticles to deliver drugs to diseased blood vessels, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia has just spun off its first startup company, Vascular Magnetics, Inc.

10 May 2011

Boston Scientific launches Expect Endoscopic Ultrasound Aspiration Needle

Boston Scientific Corporation today announced the U.S. and international launch of its Expect™ Endoscopic Ultrasound Aspiration Needle, used for acquiring tissue samples for diagnosing and staging malignancies in organs adjacent to the gastrointestinal tract. The Expect Needle received FDA clearance and CE Mark approval earlier this year and is being marketed in the U.S., Europe and other international markets.

9 May 2011

AGA's cutting-edge research on GI disorders to be presented at DDW 2011

Clinicians, researchers and scientists from around the world will gather for Digestive Disease Week- 2011, the largest and most prestigious gastroenterology meeting, from May 7-10, 2011, at McCormick Place, Chicago, IL.

7 May 2011

Obeticholic Acid safe and effective against Primary Biliary Cirrhosis

Results from an international study presented today at the International Liver Congress have shown Obeticholic Acid (OCA) is a safe and effective treatment in patients suffering from Primary Biliary Cirrhosis (PBC) as demonstrated by substantial decreases in the levels of alkaline phosphatase (AP) enzyme in the blood, a key marker for PBC.

1 Apr 2011

Positive results from Intercept OCA Phase II trial in patients with PBC

Intercept Pharmaceuticals, Inc., today announced positive results from a 59 patient, placebo controlled, double-blind Phase II clinical trial of obeticholic acid given as monotherapy to patients with primary biliary cirrhosis.

1 Apr 2011

CPRIT awards $36.7 million grant to UT Southwestern for cancer research

The Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas has awarded more than $36.7 million in new grants to investigators at UT Southwestern Medical Center to support cancer-related projects and to recruit pre-eminent cancer investigators.

29 Mar 2011

UT Southwestern receives $36.7 million CPRIT grant for cancer studies

28 Mar 2011

Scientists discover hormone pathway that can lead to new diabetes treatment

Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have discovered a hormone pathway that potentially could lead to new ways of treating type 1 diabetes independent of insulin, long thought to be the sole regulator of carbohydrates in the liver.

25 Mar 2011

St. Michael's receives $5 million McCain donation for therapeutic endoscopy program

Wallace and Margaret McCain have donated $5 million to St. Michael's Hospital for its therapeutic endoscopy program.

18 Mar 2011

New study identifies 15 genetic regions underlying primary biliary cirrhosis

Researchers have provided new clues into the genetics underlying a chronic form of liver disease, called primary biliary cirrhosis, which can lead to transplant surgery for patients.

14 Mar 2011

AGA issues Medical Position Statement on Treatment of Barrett's Esophagus

BARRX Medical, Inc., a leader in developing minimally invasive medical devices to remove precancerous tissue from the gastrointestinal tract, reported today that the American Gastroenterological Association has issued the AGA Medical Position Statement on the Treatment of Barrett's Esophagus.

10 Mar 2011

Study: High bilirubin levels within normal range linked with reduced risk of respiratory diseases

An analysis of data including more than 500,000 adults indicates that levels in the blood of bilirubin in the normal range but relatively higher were associated with a reduced risk of lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and all-cause death, according to a study in the February 16 issue of JAMA.

15 Feb 2011

TargetCancer awards significant grant for research into rare cancer of the bile duct

TargetCancer, a non-profit organization dedicated to funding research for rare and lesser known cancers, has awarded a significant grant to a leading researcher of gastrointestinal cancers and has established research fellowships through Harvard Medical School.

11 Feb 2011

Valeant Pharmaceuticals subsidiary acquires Canadian rights to Cholestagel

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. today announced that its subsidiary, Biovail Laboratories International SRL, has acquired the Canadian rights to Cholestagel (colesevelam), an oral bile acid sequestrant for hypercholesterolemia, from Genzyme Corporation.

10 Feb 2011

Five tips to lower cholesterol

An estimated 102 million Americans have cholesterol levels that are considered borderline high-risk. This staggering fact makes lowering cholesterol one of the most imperative things to do to promote overall heart health. Unfortunately, too few people understand the essential steps in reaching this goal.

9 Feb 2011

Soy protein lowers total cholesterol and non-HDL: New study

Soy protein's ability to lower total and LDL cholesterol has been extensively studied, but the mechanism whereby soy protein lowers cholesterol remains unresolved. A new study published in the Journal of Clinical Lipidology last month shows that soy protein lowers total cholesterol and non-HDL cholesterol significantly more than milk protein in patients with moderately high cholesterol levels.

18 Jan 2011

Health Canada approves GORE VIABIL Biliary Endoprosthesis device

W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. today announced it has received approval from Health Canada for the Removable GORE VIABIL Biliary Endoprosthesis.

17 Jan 2011

Carrots and plums for better looks!

Researchers at St Andrews and Bristol universities have found that carrots and plums could make one more attractive in just two months. They found that these fruits and vegetables contain pigments called carotenoids that color the skin within two months making a person more attractive and healthy.

9 Jan 2011