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.

Patients with particular genetic variation more prone to drug-induced pancreatitis

Doctors have discovered that patients with a particular genetic variation are four times more likely to develop pancreatitis if they are prescribed a widely used group of drugs.

16 Sep 2014

Short-term use of DPP-4 inhibitors does not increase risk for pancreatic cancer

Researchers at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health and the UNC School of Medicine have found that a popular class of diabetes medications called DPP-4 inhibitors does not increase the short-term risk of pancreatic cancer, as was previously reported by other researchers.

5 Sep 2014

Isis Pharmaceuticals begins ISIS-APOCIIIRx Phase 3 study in FCS patients

Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced the initiation of a Phase 3 study evaluating ISIS-APOCIIIRx in patients with familial chylomicronemia syndrome (FCS). FCS is a rare orphan disease, characterized by extremely high triglyceride levels, that affects an estimated 3,000 to 5,000 patients worldwide.

28 Aug 2014

Insulin can protect cells of pancreas from acute pancreatitis

Scientists from The University of Manchester have discovered that insulin can protect the cells of the pancreas from acute pancreatitis - a disease for which there is currently no treatment.

21 Aug 2014

PET-CT using FDG-labeled leucocytes may help in detecting infection in patients with acute pancreatitis

A new study diagnosing infection in patients with pancreatic fluid collections may swiftly and accurately rule out active infection in the body.

6 Aug 2014

Researchers find promising technique for type 1 diabetics to restore insulin producing cells

A new study by researchers at Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute (Sanford-Burnham) has found that a peptide called caerulein can convert existing cells in the pancreas into those cells destroyed in type 1 diabetes-insulin-producing beta cells.

31 Jul 2014

GSK announces availability of once-weekly Tanzeum in pharmacies throughout the U.S.

GSK today announced that once-weekly Tanzeum (albiglutide), a prescription injectable treatment for type 2 diabetes in adults, as an adjunct to diet and exercise, is now available in pharmacies throughout the U.S.

29 Jul 2014

First publication describing use of CytoSorb during cardiac surgery

CytoSorbents Corporation, a critical care immunotherapy company commercializing its CytoSorb® cytokine adsorber in multiple countries worldwide, announced the PDF availability of the first publication describing the use of CytoSorb® intra-operatively during cardiac surgery at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich Hospital - Grosshadern Campus, in Germany.

17 Jul 2014

St. Mary's Medical Center honored with Healthgrades 2014 Women's Health Excellence Award

Dignity Health St. Mary's Medical Center has received the 2014 Women's Health Excellence Award from Healthgrades, the leading online resource for comprehensive information about physicians and hospitals.

25 Jun 2014

ARIAD reports data from Iclusig Phase 2 trial in adult patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors

ARIAD Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced, for the first time, data from its Phase 2 trial of Iclusig (ponatinib) in adult patients with refractory metastatic and/or unresectable gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST).

2 Jun 2014

Data from phase III trials supports safety, efficacy of linagliptin in treating T2D in African-American adults

Data from a retrospective pooled analysis of eight phase III trials (two 18-week and six 24-week) of linagliptin 5 mg once-daily, showed reductions from baseline A1c at 18 (eight trials) and 24 (six trials) weeks compared to placebo in African-American adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D),

16 May 2014

Baylor receives patent for islet cell transplantation in patients with type1 diabetes, chronic pancreatitis

Baylor Research Institute has been awarded a patent from the U.S. Patent Office for a potential strategy to improve the outcomes of islet cell transplantation for patients with type 1 diabetes and chronic pancreatitis.

14 May 2014

CT-guided IRE therapy offers safe, feasible primary local treatment for advanced pancreatic cancer

A small group of patients with locally advanced unresectable pancreatic carcinoma suffered no major ill effects-pancreatitis or fistula formation-after undergoing percutaneous CT-guided irreversible electroporation (IRE)-a nonthermal ablation technology that is safe near vascular and ductal structures-as a therapy.

8 May 2014

AstraZeneca’s EPANOVA receives FDA approval for treatment of adults with hypertriglyceridemia

AstraZeneca today announced the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved EPANOVA (omega-3-carboxylic acids) as an adjunct to diet to reduce triglyceride levels in adults with severe hypertriglyceridemia (triglyceride levels greater than or equal to 500 mg/dL).

7 May 2014

Bristol-Myers Squibb to present new immunotherapy study data at ASCO Annual Meeting

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company today announced that new data from studies investigating its immunotherapies in adjuvant and advanced melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) will be presented at the 50th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in Chicago from May 30-June 3.

6 May 2014

Isis Pharmaceuticals reports final data from ISIS-APOCIIIRx Phase 2 study in patients with FCS

Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced the final data from its Phase 2 study of ISIS-APOCIIIRx as a monotherapy in patients with familial chylomicronemia syndrome, or FCS.

2 May 2014

FDA approves GSK's Tanzeum as once-weekly treatment for type 2 diabetes

GlaxoSmithKline plc today announced that the US Food and Drug Administration has approved Tanzeum (albiglutide) for injection, for subcutaneous use, as a once-weekly treatment for type 2 diabetes. Tanzeum has been approved as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

16 Apr 2014

Mayo Clinic collaborates with Enterprise Ireland to advance novel medical technologies

Mayo Clinic today announced a five-year collaboration with Enterprise Ireland, the Irish enterprise development agency, to advance novel medical technologies originating from Mayo Clinic.

11 Apr 2014

Researchers find link between acute pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer

In a study published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Saint Louis University researchers have found a link between acute pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) and pancreatic cancer, a finding which may eventually lead to some pancreatic cancers being detected earlier.

27 Feb 2014

Jazz Pharmaceuticals' Versacloz now commercially available in the U.S. for schizophrenia

Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc today announced U.S. commercial availability of Versacloz (clozapine, USP) oral suspension, the first and only oral suspension clozapine for severely ill treatment-resistant schizophrenia patients or those at risk of recurrent suicidal behavior with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder.

11 Feb 2014