Bayer announced plans to acquire HiDoc Technologies in early 2025 and begin commercialization of Cara Care®, the first prescribed digital health application for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). This innovative app offers a holistic, guideline-compliant therapy model integrating diet, psychology, and personalized modules to improve IBS management.
Author: Abhay Panchal
Cosmo Pharmaceuticals N.V. has announced the appointment of Dominika Spilarova as its Chief Strategy Officer, effective January 10, 2025. Dominika, a seasoned strategist with over 15 years of experience across the Life Sciences sector and management consulting, will drive growth and innovation strategies at Cosmo. She will also temporarily serve as acting Chief of Staff for the executive leadership team.
EndoQuest Robotics, a leader in flexible endoluminal robotic technologies, has received FDA Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) approval for its pivotal PARADIGM clinical study. The trial will assess the safety and performance of the company’s innovative Endoluminal Surgical (ELS) System in robotic endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) procedures for colorectal lesion removal. Conducted across five top US healthcare institutions, including Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Mayo Clinic, the study aims to redefine minimally invasive colorectal procedures.
Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA.O) is reportedly in advanced talks to sell itself to private equity firm Sycamore Partners, marking another attempt by the pharmacy chain to go private following a sharp drop in its market value. The company, valued at $9 billion after an 18% stock surge on Tuesday, has been exploring potential buyers, with a deal expected as early as next year. Walgreens previously attempted to go private in 2019, when its valuation exceeded $55 billion. Challenges such as declining retail performance, low pharmacy reimbursement rates, and mounting debt have pressured the company, prompting restructuring efforts under new CEO…
Over the past 50 years, gastroenterology has undergone transformative changes, driven by shifts in practice models, healthcare reimbursement, regulatory frameworks, and patient care approaches. A significant trend has been the movement of gastroenterologists from private practices to hospital-based and large group practice models. This shift, shaped by factors such as collaborative care needs, economies of scale, evolving patient demographics, and access to resources, offers benefits like cost savings, improved negotiating power, and access to advanced technologies. However, it also brings challenges like integration complexities and reduced autonomy for physicians.
Lil Jon, the Grammy-winning artist known for his iconic music hits, has teamed up with Exact Sciences to raise awareness about colorectal cancer screening. In a bold collaboration, Lil Jon remixed his hit song into “Get Low #2” to encourage Americans aged 45 and older to prioritize screening, particularly using the non-invasive Cologuard® test.Cologuard, a stool-based diagnostic tool, offers a convenient, at-home screening alternative to traditional colonoscopies, which often deter patients due to preparation and inconvenience. Highlighting the ease of use and accessibility, the campaign aims to bridge the screening gap among the 60 million unscreened individuals in the U.S.,…
At The Liver Meeting 2024, researchers unveiled an AI-driven algorithm capable of detecting early-stage metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) with 88% accuracy. The algorithm utilizes imaging and metabolic data from electronic medical records to identify cases often missed in traditional clinical workflows.Dr. Ariana Stuart from the University of Washington emphasized that many MASLD cases go undiagnosed, delaying care and risking disease progression. The AI tool, validated by physicians, identified 957 MASLD cases in a Seattle cohort, with 83% lacking an official diagnosis.
The One x One Summit Series Coalition, supported by Takeda, has introduced a white paper advocating for a multidisciplinary care model (MCM) to improve outcomes for patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and disorders of the gut-brain interaction (DGBI).Ken Freedman, MD, emphasized the personal impact of the initiative, citing his family’s experience with Crohn’s disease. The MCM positions gastroenterologists as “quarterbacks,” coordinating care with dieticians, psychiatrists, and other specialists to enhance patient outcomes, reduce costs, and expand access, especially in underserved areas through telehealth.Inspired by successful cancer care models, the Coalition aims to standardize MCMs, addressing care gaps and empowering…
In a groundbreaking head-to-head trial funded by Eli Lilly, Zepbound outperformed Wegovy in weight loss efficacy. Participants on Zepbound shed an average of 20.2% of their body weight, compared to 13.7% on Wegovy—a 47% greater reduction, according to Lilly’s announcement. The trial, which included 751 adults, marks the first randomized comparison of the two leading GLP-1 drugs.
Researchers at the Chinese University of Hong Kong have announced a groundbreaking, non-invasive technology that could diagnose inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) using stool samples. Expected to be available in 2027, this innovative method utilizes “droplet digital PCR” to detect bacterial biomarkers associated with IBD, offering faster and more cost-effective results compared to traditional colonoscopy-based diagnostics.