Takeda, a global biopharmaceutical company, has announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted its New Drug Application (NDA) resubmission for TAK-721 (budesonide oral suspension). This drug is under investigation for the short-term treatment of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), a chronic inflammatory disease that can damage the esophagus. The resubmission aims to address the FDA’s feedback on Takeda’s original NDA submission. Key points from the article: Background: Takeda’s resubmission for TAK-721 is driven by the significant unmet treatment needs in the EoE community. The company has reanalyzed the clinical data of TAK-721 and engaged in discussions with the…
Author: Abhay Panchal
Waste, carbon emissions are high in the endoscopy suite. How do we reduce the impacts of these vital procedures? Some 8.5% of total greenhouse gas emissions in the United States are generated by healthcare systems, with gastroenterology making an outsized contribution to the healthcare sector’s impact on the environment. Some GI experts are beginning to sound the alarm about this problem and encouraging their peers to do something about it. Heiko Pohl, MD, a professor at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, in Lebanon, N.H., has come to a painful understanding about the impact of his work on the…
Advocacy in the field of gastroenterology has been a focal point in recent years, with professionals and organizations pushing for changes that benefit both patients and providers. Here’s a summary of the article’s main points: AGA’s Advocacy Day 2022: Over 90 member advocates met with federal lawmakers to discuss key issues and regulatory burdens that impact patient care. Topics like prior authorization, step-therapy reform, Medicare reimbursement, and federal research funding were highlighted. Administrative Burdens: The primary concern for many members is the administrative challenges associated with providing quality GI care. The “Safe Step Act” is a significant advocacy point, aiming…
The field of gastroenterology in the United States has seen significant changes over the past 5 to 10 years. These changes have been influenced by historical shifts in training programs, changing demographics among GI doctors, and a shortage of specialists. Here’s a summary of the article’s main points: Historical Training Programs: The clinical specialty of gastroenterology began with the introduction of the first viable flexible colonoscope in 1972. Training programs gained momentum in the 1980s. However, decisions made in the early 1990s to extend GI fellowship training had unintended consequences, leading to fewer doctors entering the field. Demographic Changes: In…
In a world where lines between technology and healthcare blur more each day, I recently had the privilege of conversing with Omer Dror, CEO of Lynx.MD. Our dialogue ventured into the transformative realm of AI, the untapped potential of data, and the inevitable digital shift in gastroenterology. Self-driving cars once seemed a distant dream but today it’s more than a reality. Similarly, present advancements in AI and data analytics are reshaping healthcare in ways we’re only beginning to grasp. Highlights: Delve into our conversation. It’s not just a glimpse into the future; it’s a roadmap to navigate what’s to come.…
The Digestive Health Physicians Association (DHPA) has expressed its support for the “Protecting Patient Access to Cancer and Complex Therapies Act” (S. 2764, H.R. 5391). This act was introduced by U.S. Senator John Barrasso, U.S. Representative Mike Burgess, and U.S. Representative Greg Murphy. The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 had previously reduced reimbursements for certain Part B drugs, leading to a significant cut in payments to physicians. This made it challenging for them to provide essential medications to patients with chronic illnesses. Dr. Scott Ketover, the president and board chair of DHPA, highlighted that this could threaten the survival of…
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major public health concern, emphasizing the importance of early detection and refining current screening methods. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the advantages and drawbacks of AI-based computer-aided detection (CADe) systems compared to standard colonoscopy. The review highlights the global prevalence and mortality rates of CRC and the challenges of undetected adenomas and polyps. It summarizes findings from 13 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) from 2019 to 2023, assessing the impact of CADe on polyp and adenoma detection. The results consistently indicate that CADe outperforms traditional colonoscopy in terms of adenoma detection rate (ADR) and polyp…
Researchers at Penn Medicine are delving into the potential of conversational AI tools like ChatGPT in the medical field. Here’s a summary of the article: ChatGPT in Medicine: When asked about its role in medicine, ChatGPT provides a detailed explanation of its potential applications in healthcare. However, researchers at Penn, including Samiran Mukherjee, MBBS, chief fellow in Gastroenterology at the Perelman School of Medicine, are actively studying it. AI’s Role in Healthcare: Mukherjee believes that AI technology is here to stay. He emphasizes the importance of understanding how medical professionals can leverage it and how patients might interact with it.…
Value-based care, which emphasizes patient outcomes and cost-effectiveness over traditional fee-for-service models, is becoming a prominent topic in healthcare. When it comes to Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs), three healthcare leaders shared their insights: Jitander Dudee, MD, Surgeon at Medical Vision Institute (Lexington, Ky.): Dudee believes that ASCs are primed to thrive in a value-based care environment due to their capacity to provide high-quality, cost-effective care. He suggests that ASC leaders should focus on enhancing patient experiences, refining operational efficiency, and showcasing tangible value to payers and stakeholders. Ahmed Elsahy, MD, Anesthesiologist at IU Health University Hospital Interventional & Advanced Pain…
Yale researchers are delving into the potential applications of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare. Harlan Krumholz, a professor of medicine at the School of Medicine, envisions a future where healthcare extends beyond clinics, with wearable devices collecting vital health data and AI algorithms analyzing this data for early diagnosis. Recent studies from Yale have showcased the potential of AI in healthcare, including an algorithm that diagnoses aortic stenosis from an echocardiogram and another that predicts COVID-19 outcomes for emergency room patients within 12 hours. However, concerns arise regarding the reliability and ethics of AI in healthcare. The vast amount of…