A new vaccine, ELI-002 from Elicio Therapeutics, is generating excitement in early trials for KRAS-driven pancreatic and colorectal cancers. In the phase 1 AMPLIFY-201 study, more than 80% of patients developed strong T-cell responses — a signal linked to longer relapse-free and overall survival. Lead investigator Zev Wainberg, MD (UCLA) reported tumor biomarker clearance in some patients, with no severe side effects. Experts like Magnus Dillon, PhD and Richard Sullivan, PhD welcomed the findings but urged caution — calling the data promising yet far from proven efficacy. Larger trials will decide whether this vaccine can truly change outcomes for patients…
Author: Abhay Panchal
From 2009 to 2023, use of continuous glucose monitors and insulin pumps surged among people with type 1 diabetes — and with it, better glycemic control. Michael Fang, PhD, and colleagues report in JAMA Network Open that technology adoption jumped dramatically, particularly among youth, but disparities persist. Hispanic, non-Hispanic Black, and Medicaid patients remain least likely to benefit, raising equity concerns.
In BMC Gastroenterology, Dr. Adam Burton and Dr. Bryce Perler review the fast-growing role of mobile health technologies in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). From apps like HealthPROMISE and UCLA eIBD to commercial platforms like Oshi Health and Ayble, these tools are reshaping how patients track symptoms, manage diets, access mental health support, and connect with providers. Wearables also show promise: metrics like heart rate variability and step counts may predict flares before symptoms arise. But challenges remain — from cost barriers and digital literacy to the lack of large-scale trials proving long-term outcomes. Are we on the cusp of seeing…
A new Gastroenterology study led by Dr. Eric Shah (University of Michigan) shows most patients are still paying out-of-pocket for colonoscopy prep — despite ACA rules that should make it free. As Dr. Shah put it: “Bowel prep is a major reason patients defer screening.”
A breakthrough in endoscopy could change how we spot esophageal cancer. Researchers at Helmholtz Munich, the Technical University of Munich, and the Medical University of Vienna have developed O2E, a dual-imaging capsule that combines optical coherence tomography with optoacoustic imaging. Prof. Vasilis Ntziachristos says the system can reveal microscopic structural and vascular changes that older techniques missed, while Dr. Qian Li points to the potential for future integration of confocal endo-microscopy for even greater precision. Could this innovation slash the need for biopsies, cut treatment costs, and transform outcomes for a cancer often diagnosed too late?
Without a public announcement, UnitedHealth subsidiary SCA Health has taken over one of the nation’s largest gastroenterology groups — U.S. Digestive Health. Formed in 2019 by Amulet Capital Partners with partner physicians, the Exton, Pa.–based group has grown to more than 149 physicians across 24 ASCs in Pennsylvania and Delaware. The deal, closed in January 2025, was first uncovered by The Philadelphia Inquirer through a retired physician — and only later confirmed by UnitedHealth. The price tag remains undisclosed, but the implications are clear:
Nearly every physician, even in “low-risk” specialties, faces the possibility of a malpractice claim at some point in their career. In gastroenterology, Dr. Koushik Das notes that more than 10% of practitioners may face such claims, and on average, GI physicians spend over a decade of their careers with unresolved malpractice cases. Yet the subject remains rarely discussed in training or among peers. The article examines: Das emphasizes that while paid claims have decreased overall in the past two decades, the average indemnity payout is rising, and corporatization may be shielding individual doctors from being named.
After more than a decade leading microbiome drug research, Vedanta Biosciences is cutting 20% of its workforce following a failed Phase 2 trial of its IBD therapy VE202. CEO Bernat Olle admitted the results were humbling — the drug showed no significant benefit over placebo for ulcerative colitis. While this setback mirrors earlier failures from peers like Seres Therapeutics, Olle insists every study provides data that can guide the field forward. Vedanta will now shift focus to areas where microbiome therapies are proving viable — most notably its Phase 3 drug VE303 for recurrent C. diff infections. With over $300M…
Freestanding GI centers are fighting tight margins, shrinking reimbursements, and rising costs. Yet, some are thriving. According to Dr. Nalini Guda, success comes down to a blend of operational discipline and smart growth strategies — from cutting room turnover times to just minutes, to exploring new revenue streams like endoscopic ultrasound outside hospitals. Technology, staffing efficiency, smarter scheduling, and cost negotiations all play a role, but profitability isn’t automatic. It requires relentless focus on workflows and innovation. The question: which centers will adapt fast enough to capture the next wave of GI volume growth?
As hospital consolidation accelerates, Paul Berggreen, MD — president of the American Independent Medical Practice Association and CSO of GI Alliance — warns that independent gastroenterology groups are at risk of collapse without systemic reforms. In an interview with Becker’s, Dr. Berggreen outlined five critical changes.