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.

Study investigates link between cough and reflux events using sound recording device

Coughing episodes are closely related to gastroesophageal reflux symptoms in patients who experience chronic cough, irrespective of other diagnoses, according to a new study in Gastroenterology, the official journal of the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Institute.

28 Sep 2010

Scientists study nanometer scale to develop artificial molecular machines

Molecular machines can be found everywhere in nature, for example, transporting proteins through cells and aiding metabolism. To develop artificial molecular machines, scientists need to understand the rules that govern mechanics at the molecular or nanometer scale (a nanometer is a billionth of a meter).

14 Sep 2010

China Pharma second-quarter revenue increases 22% to $16.6 million

China Pharma Holdings, Inc., a leading fully-integrated specialty pharmaceuticals company in China, today announced financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2010.

10 Aug 2010

EndoStim raises $6M in Series B equity financing round

EndoStim, Inc., a medical device company developing minimally-invasive interventional therapies to treat gastrointestinal and urological neuro-muscular disorders, today announced it has raised $6 million in Series B equity financing. Santé Ventures, a life science venture capital firm, led the round and was joined by the Prolog Ventures, Vectis Healthcare & Life Sciences Fund II and returning angel investors.

19 Jul 2010

BARRX Medical closes $15 million Series D financing

BARRX Medical, Inc. today announced the closing of a $15 million Series D financing, which was led by new investor Highland Capital Partners and joined by existing investors Delphi Ventures, Alloy Ventures, Frazier Healthcare Ventures, Sutter Hill Ventures, Greenspring Associates and others. BARRX Medical, Inc. develops endoscopic treatment solutions for treating precancerous lesions of the esophagus as well as other chronic gastrointestinal diseases.

14 Jul 2010

Study shows association between obesity and GERD in children

Extremely obese children have a 40 percent higher risk of gastroesophageal reflux disease and children who are moderately obese have a 30 percent higher risk of GERD compared to normal weight children, according to a Kaiser Permanente study published online in the International Journal of Pediatric Obesity.

9 Jul 2010

Lupin's Famotidine for Oral Suspension receives FDA approval

Lupin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (LPI) announced today that it has received final approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its Famotidine for Oral Suspension (40 mg / 5 mL). Commercial shipments of the product have already commenced.

2 Jul 2010

Patients denied insurance for bariatric surgery develop new obesity-related diseases, conditions

Patients who were denied bariatric surgery for insurance reasons developed a slew of new obesity-related diseases and conditions within three years of follow-up, according to a new study presented here at the 27th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS).

24 Jun 2010

Intellipharmaceutics International files Protonix ANDA with FDA

Intellipharmaceutics International Inc. today announced that is has filed an Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for a generic of Protonix® (delayed release pantoprazole sodium). Protonix inhibits gastric acid secretion and is prescribed for the short-term treatment of conditions such as stomach ulcers associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease as well as the long term treatment of pathological hypersecretory conditions including Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.

14 Jun 2010

Clinical trial data of XP19986, XP13512 to be presented at Associated Professional Sleep Society meeting

XenoPort announced today that data from clinical trials of its product candidates arbaclofen placarbil and XP13512 (gabapentin enacarbil) will be presented at the Associated Professional Sleep Society meeting in San Antonio, Texas.

7 Jun 2010

FDA accepts Eisai's NDA for rabeprazole sodium extended-release 50 mg

Eisai Inc. (Headquarters: Woodcliff Lake, NJ; Chairman and CEO: Hajime Shimizu), a U.S. subsidiary of Eisai Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Tokyo; President and CEO: Haruo Naito) today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has accepted Eisai's New Drug Application for rabeprazole sodium extended-release 50 mg for the healing and maintenance of healing of erosive gastroesophageal reflux disease, and for the treatment of symptomatic GERD.

3 Jun 2010

SAGES issues new practice guideline for surgical treatment of GERD

BARRX Medical Inc., a leader in the development of minimally invasive medical devices designed to remove precancerous tissue from within the gastrointestinal tract, reported today that the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons has issued a new practice guideline for the surgical treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease. Left untreated, reflux of stomach contents such as acid and bile into the esophagus in GERD patients often leads to injury and chronic inflammation of the lining of the esophagus.

2 Jun 2010

$FDA warns on possible fracture risk with proton pump inhibitors use$

FDA warns on possible fracture risk with proton pump inhibitors use

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today warned consumers and health care professionals about a possible increased risk of fractures of the hip, wrist, and spine with high doses or long-term use of a class of medications called proton pump inhibitors. The product labeling will be changed to describe this possible increased risk.

26 May 2010

Research team investigates infants with suspected GERD using combined pH/MII monitoring

Gastroesophageal reflux, defined as passage of gastric contents into the esophagus is a normal process that occurs in healthy infants, children and adults. When GER causes troublesome symptoms and/or complications it is referred to as gastroesophageal reflux disease. During infancy, GER is common and can manifest with specific symptoms as vomiting and non-specific symptoms as irritability and cough. Association of non-specific symptoms with GER is a main problem in the diagnosis of GERD.

21 May 2010

Drug trend for children increased 10.8% in 2009 across America

In growing numbers, children across America are adding a dose of medicine to their daily routine. In 2009, drug trend for children – a measure of prescription spending growth – increased 10.8 percent, driven by a 5 percent increase in drug utilization and higher medication costs, according to the Medco 2010 Drug Trend Report. The growth in prescription drug use among children was nearly four times higher than the rise seen in the overall population.

20 May 2010

$Proton pump inhibitor use associated with fracture risk in postmenopausal women$

Proton pump inhibitor use associated with fracture risk in postmenopausal women

Proton pump inhibitors, medications that suppress acid in the stomach, appear to be associated with fractures in postmenopausal women and bacterial infections in many patients, and higher doses do not appear any more beneficial for treating bleeding ulcers, according to a series of reports in the May 10 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

11 May 2010

Study confirms long-term durability of endoscopic RFA using HALO system for eradicating Barrett's esophagus

Results from two major multi-center clinical trials presented at the Digestive Disease Week in New Orleans independently confirmed that the effects of endoscopic radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for eradicating a pre-cancerous condition of the esophagus called Barrett's esophagus are durable in the long-term. In a plenary scientific presentation titled "Endoscopic Radiofrequency Ablation for Barrett's Esophagus: Five-year Durability Outcomes from a Prospective Multi-Center Trial," patients with Barrett's esophagus were treated with endoscopic RFA using the HALO system.

6 May 2010

New pathology test may help doctors distinguish between two overlapping esophageal disorders: Study

A pathology test may help doctors distinguish between two separate but overlapping esophageal disorders that require different courses of treatment, according to a study by researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

5 May 2010

Weight loss through caloric restriction and increase in physical activity improve symptoms of GERD

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a debilitating problem for sufferers -- heartburn, difficulty swallowing, chest pain and acid reflux. According to a Mayo Clinic study that will be presented at Digestive Disease Week (DDW) 2010 in New Orleans May 1-5, even moderate weight gain can exacerbate those symptoms, DDW is the largest international gathering of physicians and researcher in the field of gastroenterology, hepatology, endoscopy and gastrointestinal surgery.

3 May 2010

EGS announces presentation of TIF2 procedure clinical results at SAGES meeting

EndoGastric Solutions (EGS) today announced that new U.S. clinical results for their third generation Transoral Incisionless Fundoplication (TIF2) procedure were presented during the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) meeting April 14-17, in Washington, DC.

30 Apr 2010