Annabel Kartal Allen reports that Novo Nordisk’s blockbuster weight loss drug Wegovy (semaglutide) has received accelerated FDA approval for treating metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) with moderate-to-advanced liver scarring. This milestone makes it the first GLP-1 receptor agonist approved for this indication. The approval stems from the Phase III ESSENCE trial, where Wegovy resolved steatohepatitis in 63% of patients compared with 34% on placebo and showed notable improvements in liver fibrosis. Full approval depends on ongoing trial data.
Author: Abhay Panchal
Once an academic curiosity, artificial intelligence (AI) has moved from computational labs into the endoscopy suite, most notably with computer-aided detection systems for polyp detection. Gastroenterology’s special issue examines how AI is transforming care delivery, the challenges it raises, and the importance of keeping patients at the center of innovation. Issue editors Dennis Shung, MD (Yale University), and Marietta Iacucci, MD (University College Cork), have selected articles that address patient perspectives, ethical considerations, and the latest advances in AI for detection, diagnosis, and disease management.
While gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy is rarely performed during pregnancy—accounting for just 0.4% of procedures—there are times when it is urgently needed. A new review by physician-scientists from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology, offers experience-informed and, where possible, evidence-based recommendations to guide gastroenterologists in providing safe, effective care to pregnant patients when endoscopy can’t wait.
Hospitals and insurance reporter Tara Bannow details how the Department of Justice and several states have reached a proposed settlement allowing UnitedHealth Group to acquire Amedisys — but only if they divest 164 home health and hospice locations in 19 states. The DOJ had sued to block the deal, warning it could harm competition in the home health and hospice sector. Under the agreement, the divested sites — representing about $528 million in annual revenue — will go to BrightSpring Health Services and The Pennant Group. The settlement avoids a trial but still needs a judge’s approval.
Harry Severance, MD warns that almost 800 U.S. hospitals are now at extreme risk of closure—a number that keeps rising with each new report. Many of these facilities serve as the sole lifeline for rural and disadvantaged communities, yet face crippling challenges: inadequate reimbursements, staff shortages, and selective underpayment to certain hospital settings. Severance draws a sharp analogy to the Titanic disaster—leaders aware of looming dangers but distracted by other priorities, assuming the system is “too big to fail.” He cautions that ignoring these warning signs could push the nation’s healthcare infrastructure toward a similar fate, leaving millions without access…
Sonic Incytes Medical Corp has secured FDA 510(k) clearance for Velacur ONE™, an AI-guided point-of-care ultrasound elastography device aimed at diagnosing and monitoring chronic liver diseases like MASLD and MASH. Building on its predecessor, Velacur™, the new model offers improved portability, a refined interface, and advanced features such as B-mode imaging and AI-based organ overlay for precise liver localization. The device measures attenuation, VDFF (Velacur Determined-Fat Fraction), and liver stiffness, combining these metrics to aid in early detection and treatment monitoring. VDFF technology, cleared in 2024, shows strong correlation with MRI-PDFF—the gold standard for liver fat measurement—and enables higher reimbursement…
Self-employed gastroenterologists can see substantial salary growth over the course of their careers, according to data from Medscape’s salary explorer. Nationwide, those with one to seven years of experience earn an average of $410,000 annually. That figure rises steadily with experience: That marks a 41% increase from early to mid-career compensation — followed by a plateau, with earnings remaining steady from 15 to 28 years of experience.
The latest U.S. News & World Report rankings spotlight U.S. institutions excelling in gastroenterology and hepatology research and reputation. University of California–San Diego leads the list, followed closely by Harvard University, both recognized for their pioneering work in GI science. Other top contenders include the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Virginia Commonwealth University, and Baylor College of Medicine, each with strong clinical programs and high-impact research. The rankings reflect subject-specific scores, global standing, and academic influence, offering a snapshot of where the field’s most influential studies and clinical advancements are emerging. From the Ivy League’s Yale and Columbia…
In this first-in-human pilot trial, Norton, Papaefthymiou, Telese, Vignolo, Rodriguez Grunert, and Haidry explored radiofrequency vapor ablation (RFVA) as a minimally invasive endoscopic treatment for poorly controlled type 2 diabetes. The through-the-scope device delivers circumferential thermal vapor to the duodenal mucosa, aiming to replicate some of the metabolic benefits seen with bariatric surgery. Across 27 patients, RFVA achieved 100% technical success, was well tolerated (peak pain score just 1.4), and caused no serious adverse events. Early data suggested modest HbA1c reductions at 4, 12, and 24 weeks, with full mucosal healing seen on biopsy by one month. While the trial…
A recent review in Clinical Advances in Hematology & Oncology spotlights promising developments in gastrointestinal oncology — especially for colorectal and pancreatic cancers, where late-stage diagnoses have long limited options. Highlights include fruquintinib for refractory metastatic CRC, the tucatinib + trastuzumab combination for HER2-positive CRC, and expanded uses for trifluridine-tipiracil in combination regimens.