Gastrointestinal Health News and Research

Latest Gastrointestinal Health News and Research

Sun Pharmaceutical announces expiration of Tender Offer for purchase of Taro Pharmaceutical shares

Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. today announced the expiration of the Tender Offer by Sun's subsidiary, Alkaloida Chemical Company Exclusive Group Ltd. (Alkaloida), to purchase all outstanding Ordinary Shares of Taro Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (Taro) for $7.75 per Ordinary Share.

15 Sep 2010

AMRI selects compound for advanced preclinical testing in treatment of IBS

AMRI today announced the selection of a compound from its proprietary research program for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) for advanced preclinical testing, with the goal of submitting an Investigational New Drug Application (IND) with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2011.

15 Sep 2010

Neurocrine Biosciences announces GSK561679 antagonist's efficacy in major depressive disorder

Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. today announced top-line efficacy and safety results from a Phase II clinical trial utilizing Corticotropin Releasing Factor (CRF1) receptor antagonist GSK561679 in patients currently experiencing a major depressive episode.

15 Sep 2010

NIH grants award to expand Human Microbiome Project

The National Institutes of Health has awarded a three-year, $1.1 million grant to a team of scientists at the University of Chicago and Argonne National Laboratory to develop a technology for studying the link between human health and disease and the microorganisms that reside in or on the human body.

15 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

Ironwood, Forest Laboratories announce positive results for linaclotide Phase 3 clinical trials in IBS-C patients

Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Forest Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE: FRX) today announced positive top-line results from the first of two Phase 3 clinical trials assessing the efficacy and safety of the investigational drug, linaclotide, in patients with irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C).

14 Sep 2010

Arthritis Foundation, Takeda launch Gout Living educational campaign

The Arthritis Foundation and Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America, Inc., announced the launch of a new educational campaign, Gout Living, to help increase understanding and encourage better management of gout.

14 Sep 2010

Merit Medical Systems acquires BioSphere Medical

Merit Medical Systems, Inc. today announced the completion of its acquisition of BioSphere Medical, Inc., a leading developer and marketer of embolotherapeutic products for the treatment of uterine fibroids, hypervascularized tumors, and arteriovenous malformations.

13 Sep 2010

IASIS Healthcare signs agreement to acquire Brim Holdings

IASIS Healthcare today announced the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire Brim Holdings, Inc., which operates Wadley Regional Medical Center in Texarkana, Texas, and Pikes Peak Regional Hospital in Woodland Park, Colorado, in a cash-for-stock transaction valued at approximately $95 million, subject to customary closing conditions and working capital adjustments. Combined revenue of the two facilities is approximately $120 million.

10 Sep 2010

Study finds Laotian/Hmong-Americans have low survival rates for liver cancer

Among Asian-Americans living in California, Laotian/Hmong-Americans have the lowest survival rates for the most common type of liver cancer, a new study by researchers with the UC Davis School of Medicine has found.

10 Sep 2010

Translational Research issue focuses field of stem cell research, therapy

The use of stem cells for research and their possible application in the treatment of disease are hotly debated topics. In a special issue of Translational Research published this month an international group of medical experts presents an in-depth and balanced view of the rapidly evolving field of stem cell research and considers the potential of harnessing stem cells for therapy of human diseases including cardiovascular diseases, renal failure, neurologic disorders, gastrointestinal diseases, pulmonary diseases, neoplastic diseases, and type 1 diabetes mellitus.

10 Sep 2010

Spirus Medical obtains Japanese marketing approval for ENDO-EASE line of endoscopy devices

Spirus Medical announced today that it has obtained marketing approval from the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare for the company's proprietary ENDO-EASE line of endoscopy devices. The Endo-Ease Endoluminal Advancement System features novel "over-tubes" that use a spiral design utilizing simple rotation to facilitate enteroscopy, colonoscopy and ileoscopy.

9 Sep 2010

Phase 3 REALIZE study shows milestone in treatment development for hepatitis C

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated today announced that 65% of people overall achieved a sustained viral response (SVR or viral cure) with a telaprevir-based regimen in the pivotal Phase 3 REALIZE study, as compared to 17% of people in the control arm who received pegylated-interferon and ribavirin alone.

8 Sep 2010

NIH announces award to improve human microbiome research

The National Institutes of Health today announced it has awarded approximately $42 million to expand the scope of eight demonstration projects designed to link changes in the human microbiome to health and disease.

8 Sep 2010

NIH expands funding for Baylor College of Medicine Human Microbiome Project

The National Institutes of Health today announced expanded funding of the Baylor College of Medicine Human Microbiome Project clinical program initiated last year at Texas Children Hospital.

8 Sep 2010

Israeli Supreme Court dismisses Taro's appeal in favor of Sun Pharma

Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. today announced that the Supreme Court of Israel has unanimously dismissed the appeal by Taro Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. of the previous ruling by the Tel-Aviv District Court holding that the Israeli special tender offer (STO) rules do not apply to the Tender Offer by Sun's subsidiary, Alkaloida Chemical Company Exclusive Group Ltd., to purchase all outstanding Ordinary Shares of Taro for USD 7.75 net per Ordinary Share in cash.

8 Sep 2010

GE Global Researchers receive award from NIH for human microbiome study

Researchers from GE Global Research have been awarded a $538,000 human microbiome project from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to develop new technology that would allow for the study of individual cells growing inside and outside the body believed to have a significant impact on human health.

8 Sep 2010

GI Dynamics announces data on EndoBarrier therapy for type 2 diabetes, obesity

GI Dynamics, a leader in non-surgical, endoscopic treatments for type 2 diabetes and obesity, today announced data with the EndoBarrier Gastrointestinal Liner at 12 months showing significant weight loss and cardiovascular and metabolic improvements in obese patients.

7 Sep 2010

Tibotec submits MAA for investigational HIV drug TMC278 to European Medicines Agency

Tibotec Pharmaceuticals today announced its submission of a Marketing Authorisation Application (MAA) to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for TMC278 (rilpivirine, as hydrochloride), an investigational non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) for the treatment of HIV. The proposed indication would make TMC278 available for once-daily use with other antiretroviral agents in treatment-naive HIV-1-infected adults.

3 Sep 2010

Study finds high content of aluminium in infant formulas

The aluminium content of a range of the most popular brands of infant formulas remains high, and particularly so for a product designed for preterm infants and a soya-based product designed for infants with cow's milk intolerances and allergies, researchers have found.

3 Sep 2010