In November, Cardinal Health acquired a majority stake in GI Alliance for $2.8 billion, one of the largest transactions in the gastroenterology space in recent years. Here are five key takeaways from the deal:1. The acquisition reflects a growing trend of pharmaceutical-focused healthcare companies entering the physician practice space, according to a blog post from VMG Health. Dublin, Ohio-based Cardinal Health, traditionally known for distributing pharmaceuticals and medical products, is now among a new wave of buyers that includes insurers, pharma companies and medical equipment distributors. These entities are increasingly pursuing physician group acquisitions to create vertically integrated care platforms.
Author: Abhay Panchal
Gastroenterologist Mark Pimentel discusses his article, “SIBO and IBS: the hidden link keeping millions in pain.” Mark explains how small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is frequently misdiagnosed or overlooked due to its symptom overlap with other GI conditions, particularly irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). He outlines the evolution of diagnostic tools like hydrogen, methane, and hydrogen sulfide breath tests, the clinical relevance of new ICD-10 codes, and the FDA-approved treatment rifaximin. Mark emphasizes that the most effective treatment remains the elemental diet—now made more palatable thanks to food science innovation. He urges increased awareness, clinician education, and research to bring this…
Pfizer has discontinued its experimental oral GLP-1 drug, danuglipron, for obesity treatment after a clinical trial volunteer showed signs of potential drug-induced liver injury, which later resolved. Despite the setback, Pfizer affirmed its continued commitment to obesity research through other drug candidates. The move ends a turbulent journey for the program, which once drew investor optimism amid the rising popularity of GLP-1 therapies like Ozempic.
Dr. Bill Frist, a former U.S. Senate Majority Leader and transplant surgeon, reflects on the transformational impact of generative AI (GenAI) in healthcare. While healthcare has historically struggled with unstructured data and fragmented systems, GenAI offers a breakthrough. Frist identifies key areas of immediate impact and long-term promise. He also cautions about adoption barriers—trust, infrastructure, and change management—but believes GenAI could usher in the most humane, efficient era of medicine yet.
Eli Lilly’s Oral GLP-1 Drug Orforglipron Shows Strong Results in Phase 3 Trial Eli Lilly’s investigational oral GLP-1 receptor agonist, orforglipron, met key endpoints in its Phase 3 ACHIEVE-1 trial for adults with type 2 diabetes. Unlike injectable GLP-1 drugs, orforglipron is a once-daily pill with no food or water restrictions. Key Highlights:
Atmo Biosciences has taken a major step toward commercializing its ingestible gas-sensing capsule after RMIT University officially transferred all intellectual property and patents to the company in exchange for equity. The device, initially developed at RMIT, offers real-time insight into gut health by detecting gaseous biomarkers inside the gastrointestinal tract. Key Highlights:
Apple is developing an AI-powered health coach under “Project Mulberry,” evolving from its earlier “Project Quartz.” The system will use Health app data and doctor-trained AI to deliver personalized health recommendations and video explainers. It will also include advanced food tracking, directly challenging platforms like Noom and MyFitnessPal. The launch is expected with iOS 19.4.
This white paper by EndoSound provides a practical roadmap for integrating Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) into Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs), traditionally limited by cost and complexity. Leveraging the EndoSound Vision System™ (EVS™), ASCs can now implement EUS affordably, converting existing endoscopes into EUS-capable devices at a fraction of the cost. The paper outlines key areas for success including financial modeling, equipment needs, staff training, billing strategies, and operational workflows.
Continuing with Esophageal Cancer awareness month, Dr. Parikh interviews Dr. Lishan Aklog, who is chairman and CEO of Lucid Diagnostics. They discuss esophageal cancer pathophysiology, prevalence and the current state of esophageal cancer screening. They then shift their focus to EsoGuard, a novel screening tool for Barrett’s esophagus and esophageal cancer.
Surgery for ulcerative colitis (UC) is often curative for colorectal disease and significantly improves quality of life, especially in patients with medically refractory disease. Dr. Stefan Holubar emphasizes that surgery should not be seen as a last resort but as a viable treatment complementing medical therapy. The most common surgical approach is the three-stage J-pouch procedure, allowing patients to eventually defecate normally without an ostomy. This process includes a colectomy, pouch construction with protective ileostomy, and ileostomy closure.