Abstract: The use of combination therapy with a biologic agent and immunosuppressant has well-established efficacy and safety and is common practice in the management of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Current research has shifted focus toward the use of advanced combination treatment (ACT). This term was coined to describe combination therapy using 2 or more advanced treatments (biologic agents and/or oral small molecule drugs) with the aim of achieving optimal disease control in selected patients. An ACT approach may be particularly beneficial in patients with documented medically refractory IBD and in patients with a poor prognosis, extraintestinal manifestations, or concomitant immune-mediated inflammatory…
Author: Rutali Thakur
First-degree relatives of people with advanced adenomas have an increased risk for colorectal cancer, yet this risk often is unrecognized and appropriate screening often ignored. Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco attempted to change this scenario, and their intervention shows signs of paying off. “We saw an untapped opportunity to intervene early and intensively at the time of colonoscopy of the index family member. … Our quality improvement interventions led to a 73% improvement in the rate of appropriate guideline-based CRC screening recommendations for high-risk individuals,” said Alec Faggen, MD, a third-year gastroenterology fellow at the UCSF School…
More than 70% of U.S. adults feel the health care system is failing to meet their needs in at least one way, according to new data from the Harris Poll, shared exclusively with TIME. Despite spending more money per capita on health care than any other wealthy country in the world, the U.S. struggles to match other nations in life expectancy and other health outcomes. The new Harris Poll survey, which was conducted from February to March 2023 and commissioned by the American Academy of Physician Associates, shows that patient satisfaction is also suffering due to the high costs, inaccessibility, and confusing logistics of U.S. medical…
ASGE, along with Ambu Inc., the leading provider of single-use flexible endoscopes, announce Ambu’s support in equipping the state-of-the-art Bioskills Laboratory and Simulation Center at ASGE’s Institute for Training & Technology (IT&T) with six of Ambu’s industry-leading GI platforms containing aBox™ processors and associated single-use scopes for ERCP and EGD procedures. Ambu’s sponsorship will make the ASGE IT&T the first and only training facility to offer single-use flexible endoscopy equipment to ASGE members and rising GI fellows, underscoring the GI market’s growing transition to single-use scopes. ASGE IT&T will allow training and experiential access to the aScope™ Duodeno as well…
An industry-first FDA approval for a nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) therapy may still be a ways off. After reviewing Intercept Pharmaceuticals’ latest application for obeticholic acid (OCA), the agency appears all but ready to reject the drug in NASH-related pre-cirrhotic liver fibrosis, according to a briefing document released ahead of an expert panel meeting set for Friday. Citing a long list of safety risks and the practical hurdle for patients to undergo a liver biopsy—coupled with “modest” efficacy—the FDA said it “cannot justify OCA use in NASH subjects with stage 2 or 3 fibrosis.”
AbbVie wants to remind people about the importance of honest discussions in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) with the kickoff of a new YouTube conversation series. The global “Gutsy IBD Conversations” campaign will include Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn and channel shorter content posts to help drive viewers to the full series on YouTube. The first episodes officially debut on Friday, which is World IBD Day, and a total of 15 short-form video conversations will be released throughout May and June,
Oshi Health, the virtual specialty care company transforming gastrointestinal (GI) health outcomes and economics, has been selected by Modern Healthcare as one of the 2023 Best Places to Work in Healthcare. “We are scaling access to care that millions of people have desperately needed, and building a specialized clinical workforce and empowered culture that thrives through virtual care delivery. This opportunity to change lives is what drew all of us to healthcare in the first place,” said Sam Holliday, Oshi Health CEO. “We are honored to be included in Modern Healthcare’s Best Places to Work and are grateful for our team’s…
Scientific evidence, not popular ideas, should drive probiotic and prebiotic recommendations in clinical settings. Globally, evidence is continually emerging on how probiotics and prebiotics can be effectively used in patient care but health care professionals often struggle to find out where the evidence stands for a particular condition. The World Gastroenterology Organization (WGO) recently published an updated guideline document, aimed at helping gastroenterologists and other physicians understand appropriate clinical applications for probiotics or prebiotics. The guideline was created with contributions from experts in gastroenterology, probiotics, and prebiotics, with the efforts co-led by experts from the International Scientific Association for Probiotics…
Following plans to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, Envision Healthcare reached a restructuring agreement with its stakeholders. Under the agreement, AmSurg and Envision Physician Services will be separately owned by their lenders, Envision said in a May 15 news release. AmSurg will buy ASCs held by Envision for $300 million plus a waiver of loans.
Reports record results, raises full-year guidance, accelerates path to positive free cash flow First quarter highlights MADISON, Wis., May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Exact Sciences Corp. (Nasdaq: EXAS), a leading provider of cancer screening and diagnostic tests, today announced that the company generated revenue of $602.5 million for the first quarter ended March 31, 2023, compared to $486.6 million for the same period of 2022.