Gastrointestinal Health News and Research

Latest Gastrointestinal Health News and Research

Vertex announces positive interim results from telaprevir Phase 2 study in patients with HCV, HIV

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated announced today interim results from an ongoing, two-part, Phase 2 study evaluating telaprevir in combination with pegylated-interferon and ribavirin compared to pegylated-interferon and ribavirin alone in people who are infected with both genotype 1 hepatitis C virus and human immunodeficiency virus, also known as HCV-HIV co-infection.

3 Mar 2011

Turmeric may be 'the right spice' to fight colon cancer

Turmeric, a bright yellow spice from south Asia belonging to the ginger family, is the main ingredient in curries - and ancient wisdom suggests that it's also good for your health. Taking this wisdom to the laboratory, Tel Aviv University researchers have discovered that turmeric's active ingredient called curcumin amplifies the therapeutic activity of highly toxic anti-inflammatory drugs used to fight colon cancer when used at high doses.

3 Mar 2011

UH Ahuja Medical Center officially opens its doors to patients on March 2

University Hospitals Ahuja Medical Center – the first new stand-alone hospital in Cuyahoga County in 30 years –officially opens its doors to patients on March 2.

2 Mar 2011

New colon cancer screening campaign initiative in New York City

In honor of National Colon Cancer Awareness Month, Katie Couric, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, WCBS-TV and The Jay Monahan Center for Gastrointestinal Health at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital announced the launch of the "Make That Call" for colon cancer screening campaign.

2 Mar 2011

European Commission approves BMY's BARACLUDE(r) to treat CHB in adult patients with liver disease

Bristol-Myers Squibb announced today that BARACLUDE(R) has been approved by the European Commission on February 28th 2011 to treat chronic hepatitis B in adult patients with evidence of decompensated liver disease.

1 Mar 2011

FDA approves Forest Labs' Daliresp to treat COPD

Forest Laboratories, Inc. announced today that Daliresp was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a treatment to reduce the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbations in patients with severe COPD associated with chronic bronchitis and a history of exacerbations.

1 Mar 2011

New guidelines to address major clinical issues encountered in treatment of Barrett's esophagus

Endoscopic removal of pre-cancerous cells in patients with confirmed, high-risk Barrett's esophagus is recommended rather than surveillance, according to a new "Medical Position Statement on the Management of Barrett's Esophagus," published by the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Institute. The medical position statement was published in Gastroenterology, the official journal of the AGA Institute.

1 Mar 2011

UCSF collaborates with Zcube to develop new ways to deliver drugs

A pill filled with microscopic, drug-laden adhesive squares is at the center of an agreement between UCSF and Zcube srl, the research corporate venture arm of Italian pharmaceutical leader Zambon Co., SpA, to license UCSF-developed microtechnology and support early research into new ways to deliver oral medications directly to a targeted site in the body.

28 Feb 2011

SQI Diagnostics first quarter net loss increases to $2,255,000

SQI Diagnostics Inc., a medical systems automation company focused on evolving laboratory-based autoimmune biomarker testing, today announced its financial and operational results for the first quarter ended December 31, 2010.

28 Feb 2011

Final data from 4SC vidofludimus ENTRANCE Phase IIa trial against IBD presented at ECCO IBD Conference

4SC AG, a drug discovery and development company focused on autoimmune and cancer indications, announces the final data from the ENTRANCE Phase IIa trial in inflammatory bowel disease with vidofludimus, an oral inhibitor of interleukin-17 release and DHODH, including the secondary endpoints comprising the analysis of CDAI and CAI disease scores, change of prednisolone intake and threshold doses, safety, pharmacokinetics and biomarkers.

28 Feb 2011

Scripps Health offers genetic testing to patients with Hepatitis C

Scripps Health is one of the first health systems in the United States to offer genetic testing as part of its care for hepatitis C patients planning to undergo drug treatment.

28 Feb 2011

Takeda receives FDA approval for EDARBI to treat hypertension in adults

Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America, Inc., today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved EDARBI for the treatment of hypertension, or high blood pressure, in adults.

27 Feb 2011

Warner Chilcott fourth quarter revenue increases 1% to $694.4 million

Warner Chilcott plc today announced its results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2010. As discussed more fully below, our financial position and results of operations in the quarter ended December 31, 2010 as compared to the prior year quarter were significantly impacted by several important transactions in 2009 and 2010.

25 Feb 2011

Salix anticipates receipt of FDA's CRL for XIFAXAN 550 mg sNDA

Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. today announced that based on a telephone conversation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration held last evening, the Company anticipates receiving a Complete Response Letter on or before the March 7, 2011 PDUFA goal date for the supplemental New Drug Application for XIFAXAN 550 mg tablets for the proposed indication of treatment of non-constipation irritable bowel syndrome and IBS-related bloating.

25 Feb 2011

Researchers develop new inexpensive way of filtering water with silver nanoparticles

Disasters such as floods, tsunamis, and earthquakes often result in the spread of diseases like gastroenteritis, giardiasis and even cholera because of an immediate shortage of clean drinking water. Now, chemistry researchers at McGill University have taken a key step towards making a cheap, portable, paper-based filter coated with silver nanoparticles to be used in these emergency settings.

24 Feb 2011

Takeda submits NDA to FDA for fixed-dose combination of azilsartan medoxomil plus CLD to treat hypertension

Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited announced today that Takeda Global Research & Development Center, Inc. U.S., submitted a New Drug Application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for an investigational fixed-dose combination of azilsartan medoxomil plus chlorthalidone for the treatment of hypertension, or high blood pressure.

24 Feb 2011

FDA allows marketing of Ridascreen Norovirus 3rd Generation EIA assay in the US

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration allowed marketing of the first test for the preliminary identification of norovirus.

24 Feb 2011

BRI and Eureka Genomics form strategic alliance to advance cancer treatments

Baylor Research Institute (BRI), the research arm of Baylor Health Care System, and bioinformatics pioneer Eureka Genomics (EG) have formed a strategic alliance to achieve a better understanding of the causes of colorectal cancer, potentially leading to advancements in the disease's prevention, management and treatment.

24 Feb 2011

Scientists find bovine colostrum can massively reduce leaky gut syndrome

Scientists investigating natural ways to enhance athletic performance have found that bovine colostrum can massively reduce gut permeability - otherwise known as 'leaky gut syndrome.'

24 Feb 2011

Norgine, Tranzyme commence dosing in ulimorelin Phase 3 study for restoring GI function after surgery

Tranzyme Pharma and Norgine B.V., have initiated dosing of ulimorelin in the first of two, Phase 3 pivotal studies - ULISES. Ulimorelin is Tranzyme's intravenous promotility agent in development for the management of postoperative ileus in hospital and acute care settings.

23 Feb 2011