Gastrointestinal Health News and Research

Latest Gastrointestinal Health News and Research

UCB announces winners of 2010 UCB Crohn's and Me Scholarship Program

UCB, Inc., a global leader in the research and development of medications to treat immunology disorders, today announced the winners of its 2010 UCB Crohn's and Me Scholarship Program for outstanding individuals affected by this condition. UCB has selected 31 winners to receive a scholarship worth up to $10,000 to help them seek personal growth through higher education.

15 Oct 2010

Administering ondansetron drug to children is economically advantageous

Two years ago, a study by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill researchers found that an anti-vomiting drug called ondansetron helps reduce vomiting, the need for intravenous fluids and hospital admissions in children with acute gastroenteritis.Now a new economic analysis led by Canadian researchers, in collaboration with Michael J. Steiner, MD, assistant professor of pediatrics at UNC, concludes that routinely giving ondansetron to children with gastroenteritis-induced vomiting would prevent thousands of hospitalizations and save millions of dollars each year.

15 Oct 2010

FibroGen announces initiation of FG-3019 phase 2 study for reversing liver fibrosis

FibroGen, Inc. today announced initiation of a phase 2 study to compare the efficacy of FG-3019, a human monoclonal antibody against connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), with placebo in reversing liver fibrosis (scarring of the liver) due to chronic infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV).

15 Oct 2010

NIH awards two new grants to develop Avidocin platform

AvidBiotics today announced the receipt of two new grants totaling $1 million dollars from the National Institutes of Health that further the development of the company's novel Avidocin™ platform for narrow spectrum antibacterial proteins against important health care threats. These grants add to three previous grants covering AvidBiotics' anti-infectious disease technologies, which provide approximately $3.4 million in currently active funding for the company.

15 Oct 2010

Researchers study bacterial ecosystem to optimize women's health

A team of Canadian researchers are examining the delicate balance of bacteria and viruses in women's bodies in order to optimize women's health through their lives.

15 Oct 2010

Acetadote Injection is now commercially available in Australia

Cumberland Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Phebra Pty Ltd. today announced that Acetadote (acetylcysteine) Injection, an injectable product used to treat acetaminophen (paracetamol) overdose, is now commercially available in the Australian market. Phebra Pty Ltd., an Australian-based specialty pharmaceutical company, has an exclusive license from U.S.-based Cumberland Pharmaceuticals to market and distribute the product in Australia.

15 Oct 2010

NinePoint announces completion of $33 million Series A financing

NinePoint Medical, Inc., an emerging leader in the development of in vivo pathology devices, today announced it has completed a $33 million Series A financing led by Third Rock Ventures and Prospect Venture Partners. The company also announced the establishment of its corporate headquarters in Cambridge, Mass. where Charles Carignan, M.D., serves as president and chief executive officer.

14 Oct 2010

AGA's new book offers strategies to reduce IBS symptoms

A new book from the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) offers patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) a variety of strategies to lessen the burden that IBS puts on their everyday lives. IBS is a common disorder of the intestines that leads to crampy pain, gassiness, bloating and changes in bowel habits; there is no cure. The new book, "Master Your IBS," includes a variety of strategies to help patients learn how to manage their IBS symptoms and achieve greater freedom from IBS.

14 Oct 2010

Cincinnati Children's, North Carolina collaborate to create registry system for IBD

Building on the success of previous efforts among researchers and caregivers to improve the care of chronically ill children, North Carolina Children's Hospital is one of 27 sites across the nation developing a disease registry for inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). The research collaborative is part of a $12-million grant to Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, enabling the creation of this first-of-its-kind registry system providing real time information on thousands of IBD cases across the country and, eventually, around the world.

14 Oct 2010

Four British Columbia students awarded 2010 UCBeyond Scholarship

For four students from British Columbia, their stories of perseverance in pursuing their hopes and dreams despite their illnesses is why they have been awarded $5,000 CAN each as the 2010 recipients of the UCBeyond Scholarship.

13 Oct 2010

First Worldwide NET Cancer Awareness Day on November 10, 2010

The World NET Community announces the first Worldwide NET Cancer Awareness Day on November 10, 2010 to raise awareness about cancers called neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) and the need for timely detection and diagnosis. More than 90% of all NET patients are incorrectly diagnosed and initially treated for the wrong disease. Misdiagnoses or delayed diagnoses mean that NET patients are treated on average five to seven years for the wrong disease; often the correct diagnosis is not made until the disease has spread (metastasized).

13 Oct 2010

Medical Exchange announces next generation of continuing medical education events

Medical Exchange, an innovative provider of medical education solutions for the health care industry, today announced the next generation of continuing medical education events with the launch of collaborativeCARE Conference (C3).

13 Oct 2010

Pharmalink's Nefecon for IgA nephropathy receives FDA orphan drug designation

Pharmalink AB, a privately held Swedish pharmaceutical company, has received orphan drug designation by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its product candidate Nefecon (PL-56) for patients with IgA nephropathy, also referred to as Berger's Disease. This program is presently in clinical development phase II.

13 Oct 2010

MTN-007 phase trial evaluates vaginal microbicide to prevent rectal transmission of HIV

Tenofovir gel, a vaginal microbicide that has shown promise for preventing HIV through vaginal sex, is being tested in a new trial looking at its safety and acceptability when used rectally. The results of the study, being led by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded Microbicide Trials Network (MTN), will help determine if the gel should be evaluated further for its potential to prevent HIV among both men and women who engage in receptive anal intercourse.

13 Oct 2010

US Oncology enrolls 1,000th patient in Phase I clinical trial

US Oncology, Inc., the nation's leading integrated oncology company, announced today that it has enrolled the 1,000th patient in a Phase I clinical trial through its US Oncology Research Network. Phase I clinical trials present special challenges, including increased safety concerns, higher variability of patient disease, more complex trial designs, and some first-in-human trials, making Phase I trials more difficult to operate in the community setting.

13 Oct 2010

Albireo reports positive results from A3309 Phase IIb study in chronic idiopathic constipation

Albireo today announced positive top-line results from a Phase IIb study in chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC) assessing efficacy and safety of three different dose levels (5, 10 and 15 mg orally once a day) of the investigational drug A3309 during an eight week trial. Analyses of the data show clinically meaningful and statistically significant improvement for patients treated with A3309 compared to placebo-treated patients.

12 Oct 2010

Magnetecs announces commencement of human studies using CGCI system in patients with arrhythmia

Magnetecs Corporation, a designer and manufacturer of robotic systems for minimally invasive surgical procedures, today reported that human studies have commenced using the Company's Catheter Guidance Control and Imaging (CGCI) system for patients with arrhythmia, or irregular heart beat.

12 Oct 2010

Apollo completes first clinical case with FlexShears Endoscopic device

Apollo Endosurgery, Inc. announced completion of the first clinical case involving its FlexShears Endoscopic Scissors. The new device was used to cut and remove an obstructing eroded suture from the patient's GI tract in a procedure that embodies the Apollo vision of improving patient care with flexible surgery.

12 Oct 2010

FDA approves Warner Chilcott's ACTONEL for postmenopausal osteoporosis

Warner Chilcott plc today announced that the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved its next generation ACTONEL® (risedronate sodium) product for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis in the United States. The product will be marketed as ATELVIA™ (risedronate sodium) delayed-release tablets.

11 Oct 2010

Micromet to initiate MEDI-565 Phase 1 trial in patients with advanced gastrointestinal cancer

Micromet, Inc. today announced that its licensee for MT111, MedImmune, plans to initiate a Phase 1 trial in patients with advanced gastrointestinal cancers based on an investigational new drug (IND) application recently accepted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

11 Oct 2010