Here are seven news updates for gastroenterologists to know for Feb. 20, 2015
FDA releases safety communication on duodenoscopes.
Duodenoscopes, used during ERCP, have been associated with a number of infections, most recently an outbreak of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae at UCLA Ronald Regan Medical Center. The FDA has now released a safety communication focused on duodenoscopes. The FDA warns that the intricate design of duodenoscopes may impede effective cleaning and sterilization.
2015 AGA Institute Council elections open for voting
The site to vote in the 2015 AGA Institute Council elections is now open. The AGA Institute Council develops the invited speaker and abstracted programming for Digestive Disease Week. The deadline to submit votes is March 30.
Boston Scientific announces 2 product updates.
The company received expanded FDA 510(k) clearance for its Resolution Clip designed for hemostasis, endoscopic marking, closure and anchoring jejunal feeding tubes. The clip now has clearance for use in hemostasis prophylactic clipping to reduce the risk of delayed bleeding post lesion resection. The company also released its Advantix Pancreatic Stent, NaviFlex RX Pancreatic Delivery System, NaviFlex Pushers and Advantix Pancreatic Stent Kits are now available. This is the company's first plastic stent for pancreatic duct drainage.
Dr. Alfred McNair named to Mississippi State of Institutions of High Learning board of trustees.
Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant named four members to the State Institutions of Higher Learning board of trustees. One of the four appointees is Alfred McNair Jr., MD, owner of Digestive Health Center in Ocean Springs, Miss. Dr. McNair is also the president and founder of Mississippi Coast Physicians, as well as chief of medical staff at Biloxi (Miss.) Regional Medical Center.
New grant program for epigenetic research in IBD launches.
The Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America, American Gastroenterological Association and Janssen Biotech collaborated to create a new grant program. The program, which will provide $100,000 per year for three years, will support epigenetic research in inflammatory bowel disease.
Patient knowledge of colonoscopy quality measures remains low.
A study published in The American Journal of Gastroenterology aimed to determine whether or not patients consider quality metrics when selecting a GI physician for colonoscopy. The researchers concluded that patients place primary care physician referral as the most important factor in colonoscopist selection, and quality metric knowledge remains relatively low. The authors suggested primary care physicians have an important role to play in educating patients on the importance of quality metrics.
Gilead Sciences expects rise in Sovalid use in Europe.
Gilead Sciences is expecting a significant increase this year in the number of hepatitis C patients treated with its Sovaldi drug in Europe. According to Gilead Sciences' President and COO John Milligan, around 17,000 HCV patients were treated in France last year under a temporary utilization program. Sovaldi has come under fire for its high price tag. However, the company is negotiating price cuts in Europe with the expectation that patient volume increases will be dramatic.