Gastrointestinal Health News and Research

Latest Gastrointestinal Health News and Research

Positive results from Glenmark's crofelemer Phase 2 study in acute watery diarrhea

Napo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is pleased to announce the positive results of a successfully completed Phase 2 study of crofelemer for the treatment of hospitalized adult patients with mild to moderate acute watery diarrhea conducted by its partner Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd..

14 Feb 2011

Richard J. Fasenmyer Foundation awards $3M to Cleveland physicians for AIDS research

A three-year, $3 million gift from the Richard J. Fasenmyer Foundation will fund research by a pair of Cleveland physicians into HIV and the body's response in autoimmune diseases.

11 Feb 2011

Afinitor plus BSC doubles progression-free survival in patients with advanced pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors

The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) published a study today that shows Afinitor® (everolimus) tablets plus best supportive care (BSC) more than doubled progression-free survival (PFS), or time without tumor growth, versus placebo plus BSC in patients with advanced pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (NET).

10 Feb 2011

Repligen third quarter total revenue increases 26% to $7,068,000

Repligen Corporation today reported results for the third quarter of fiscal year 2011, ended December 31, 2010. Total revenue for the quarter was $7,068,000 compared to total revenue of $5,617,000 for the third quarter of fiscal year 2010 ended December 31, 2009, an increase of $1,451,000 or 26%.

9 Feb 2011

Natco Pharma files ANDA with FDA for generic version of Tamiflu

Alvogen, the US-based pharmaceutical company, today announced that its India-based partner, Natco Pharma Limited, has filed an Abbreviated New Drug Application with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the generic version of Tamiflu.

9 Feb 2011

MRI Medical announces name change to Xeridiem Medical Devices

MRI Medical Inc. is changing its name to Xeridiem Medical Devices, Inc. as part of its corporate development plan.

9 Feb 2011

Study finds heartburn as a common condition in Iceland

Heartburn is a signature symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which is a cluster of symptoms and signs associated with regurgitation of stomach acid up to the pharynx and mouth. Patient-based studies of GERD have shown high prevalence and chronicity, particularly in Western societies. GERD is associated with significant health-care utilization and diminished quality of life.

8 Feb 2011

Fast track rehabilitation program effective after colorectal surgery

The concept of fast track rehabilitation program has been recently introduced in colorectal surgery. It is basically a multidisciplinary perioperative care strategy for patients after resection of colorectal cancer.

8 Feb 2011

Study on non-surgical approach for treatment of liver hydatidosis

Concerning treatment, until recently the only definitive treatment for hydatid disease had been surgery. Different surgical techniques and procedures have been carried out and even in some cases, a liver transplant has been required. Advances in drug therapy has been influenced by the introduction of albendazole and accelerated by addition of praziquantel, but this requires a long period of treatment i.e. up to a year or more, and is not effective for everyone.

8 Feb 2011

Progenics, Salix enter exclusive worldwide license agreement for RELISTOR

Progenics Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. today announced that they have entered into an exclusive worldwide (except Japan) agreement by which Salix has licensed rights to RELISTOR® (methylnaltrexone bromide).

7 Feb 2011

AMRI fourth quarter total revenue increases 12% to $48.6 million

AMRI today reported financial and operating results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2010.

7 Feb 2011

Merck announces publication of GARDASIL pivotal Phase III study data in NEJM

Merck announced today that data from the pivotal Phase III study with GARDASIL in males were published in the February 3 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

3 Feb 2011

FDA issues Complete Response Letter for approval of Eisai's rabeprazole sodium extended-release capsules

Eisai announced today that the company received a Complete Response Letter from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding the New Drug Application (NDA) of rabeprazole sodium extended-release capsules, 50 mg, an investigational proton pump inhibitor (PPI) under review for the healing and long-term maintenance of healing and symptom resolution of erosive gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and for the treatment of daytime and nighttime heartburn and other symptoms of non-erosive GERD.

2 Feb 2011

Orexigen, Takeda announce FDA's issue of complete response letter for Contrave NDA

Orexigen® Therapeutics, Inc. and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited announced today that the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a complete response letter dated January 31, 2011 regarding the New Drug Application for Contrave® (naltrexone HCl/bupropion HCl) extended-release tablets for the treatment of obesity, including weight loss and maintenance of weight loss.

1 Feb 2011

Scientists successfully crystallise key norovirus enzyme

With the number of norovirus infection cases rising across the country, scientists from the University of Southampton have successfully crystallised a key norovirus enzyme, which could help in the development of a norovirus treatment.

1 Feb 2011

Octreotide inhibits HepG2 proliferation, study confirms

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common malignancy in the world and is estimated to cause approximately half a million deaths annually. Undoubtedly, the best available treatment for all liver tumors is complete surgical resection. However, the synthetic somatostatin analogue octreotide has been found effective in inhibiting tumor growth in a variety of experimental models. It has been reported that octreotide inhibits the proliferation and induces apoptosis of different HCC cell lines in vitro.

1 Feb 2011

Study finds E2F5 transcription factor commonly overexpressed in primary human HCC

E2F5 is a member of the E2F transcription factor family, and plays a key role in cell growth and proliferation. Overexpression of E2F5 has been reported in various human cancers, but not in liver cancer, and its biological implication is largely unknown. It is not known whether E2F5 plays a tumor suppressor role or an oncogenic role.

1 Feb 2011

Researchers propose new classification system for SOD

Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction is a pathological syndrome that is usually classified into the biliary type or the pancreatic type according to the Milwaukee criteria.

1 Feb 2011

Research sheds new light on venous thromboembolism following liver resections

Patients undergoing liver surgery have long been considered to be at low risk of venous thromboembolism. However, pulmonary embolism has recently emerged as an increasingly frequent and potentially fatal complication following liver resections.

1 Feb 2011

New research finding shows strong relationship between gut bacteria and fatty liver

The more we learn about biology, the closer we get to being able to treat disease - and the more complicated our understanding of disease itself becomes. A new research finding showing a strong relationship between complex microbial ecologies in human intestines and the common but serious medical condition known as fatty liver illustrates this paradox.

1 Feb 2011