Biosimilars are increasingly transforming inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) care by offering cost-effective alternatives to expensive biologics with comparable safety and efficacy. A recent review in Clinical and Experimental Medicine emphasized their potential to improve access to IBD treatments globally, especially in low- and middle-income countries.The study also explores innovative drug delivery systems (DDSs) — such as nanoparticle-based therapies — which could enhance targeted treatment, reduce systemic side effects, and improve patient experience. As IBD incidence rises worldwide, these advances aim to make care more effective, affordable, and accessible.
Author: Abhay Panchal
On April 24, 2025, Medtronic announced a strategic U.S. distribution agreement with Dragonfly™ Endoscopy, Inc. for its advanced Dragonfly™ pancreaticobiliary system. The system enhances endoscopic procedures in the bile and pancreatic ducts by offering superior visualization, a 42% larger working channel, and the ability to obtain larger biopsy samples and use more durable lithotripsy probes.
A Phase 3 clinical trial led by Dr. Marwan Fakih at City of Hope has found that combining sotorasib (a KRAS G12C inhibitor) with panitumumab (an EGFR-targeting monoclonal antibody) significantly improves progression-free survival in patients with KRAS G12C-mutated metastatic colorectal cancer that no longer responds to standard chemotherapy. The study, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, showed a 30% objective response rate in the high-dose combination group versus just 1.9% in the standard care group. The findings suggest this drug duo may soon become a new standard of care.
The NIH’s abrupt dismissal of grant renewal applications for rare disease consortia — including the Consortium of Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Disease Researchers (CEGIR) — is drawing sharp criticism from the AAAAI and patient advocacy groups. The decision, based on a minor technicality rather than scientific merit, threatens to dismantle critical research infrastructure and halt life-saving work for patients with eosinophilic gastrointestinal diseases. Advocates are urging Congress to intervene, warning that the move sets a dangerous precedent and will directly harm patient care and innovation.
Guardant Health and Pfizer have entered a multi-year global collaboration to advance Pfizer’s oncology drug development using Guardant’s liquid biopsy technologies, particularly the Guardant Infinity™ platform. The partnership will focus on utilizing circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) to monitor therapy response and explore blood-based epigenomic analyses in clinical trials. The agreement includes access to Guardant tests in China, bolstered by Guardant’s earlier partnership with Adicon Holdings. The collaboration underscores growing interest in ctDNA as a surrogate endpoint for evaluating cancer treatment efficacy.
A Tech-Startup and a GI Giant Just Redefined Clinical ResearchWhat happens when the largest GI practice in the country partners with a digital-native startup? You get more than scale. You get a radical redesign of how clinical research works, where trials no longer live on the sidelines of care, but at its very center. On The Scope Forward Show, Dr. Jonathan Ng (Founder & CEO, Iterative Health) and Dr. Casey Chapman (CMO, GI Alliance) announced a first-of-its-kind alliance:→ 80 research sites across the globe→ A shared platform for trial execution at the point of care→ And a vision to restore agency to physicians while unlocking equitable access for patients “It’s not about trial…
UnitedHealth Group has adopted an aggressive approach to recover outstanding balances on loans issued to healthcare providers affected by the February 2024 ransomware attack on Change Healthcare. The attack caused a prolonged outage of Change Healthcare’s systems, causing massive disruption to revenue cycles as providers were unable to submit claims. Many providers were forced to exhaust personal funds to keep their businesses open, and many providers were pushed to the brink of closure.
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.
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.