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10 news highlights to mark Gastroparesis Awareness Month
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August is Gastroparesis Awareness Month. First listed on the U.S. National Health Observances Calendar in 2016 with sponsorship by the International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders, this awareness initiative aims to focus attention on diagnosis, treatment and quality of life issues associated with this poorly understood motility condition that prevents the stomach from properly emptying.
To contribute to Gastroparesis Awareness Month, the editors of Healio Gastroenterology have compiled 10 news articles covering gastroparesis research, new diagnostics and investigational drugs in the pipeline.
1. GPOEM improves gastroparesis symptoms, quality of life
Gastric per-oral endoscopic pyloromyotomy, or GPOEM, resulted in overall improvement in gastroparesis symptoms, as well as improved gastric emptying and quality of life, according to recent study data. Read more
2. 5-HT4 agonist shows promise in gastroparesis
Velusetrag safely improved symptoms and normalized gastric emptying in both diabetic and idiopathic gastroparesis in a phase 2b trial, the manufacturer announced. Read more
3. Gastroparesis requires more awareness, better treatments
Patients with gastroparesis may experience symptoms for 5 years before they receive an accurate diagnosis. This indicates that broader awareness among health care providers and the public, and better treatments remain necessary to improve care and outcomes, according to the results of a survey study. Read more
4. Relamorelin reduces symptoms in diabetic gastroparesis
Data from a study of patients with diabetic gastroparesis showed that relamorelin reduced symptoms; however, data also showed the placebo effect was also strong, according to a presentation at Digestive Disease Week. Read more
5. Age, sex, obesity among factors that affect outcomes in gastroparesis
A recent study found that less than a third of gastroparesis patients had significant symptom relief after treatment, and identified a number of independent predictors of symptom reduction. Read more
6. Emend improves gastroparesis symptoms, fails to reach endpoint
Oral Emend (aprepitant) improved gastroparesis symptoms based on commonly used gastroparesis measures in a randomized controlled trial, according to the APRON results presented at ACG 2016. Read more
7. FDA clears expanded indications for EndoFLIP endolumenal imaging system
The FDA has cleared expanded indications for the EndoFLIP endolumenal imaging system. In addition to currently cleared indications for the esophagus and stomach, the EndoFLIP system and catheters can now be used for sphincter measurements in patients with disorders like gastroparesis. Read more
8. Cairn launches breath test for gastroparesis
Last year, Cairn Diagnostics launched the 13-C-Spirulina Gastric Emptying Breath Test for the diagnosis of gastroparesis. Read more
9. FDA approves breath test for diagnosis of gastroparesis
The FDA approved the Gastric Emptying Breath Test, or GEBT, a novel noninvasive diagnostic for gastroparesis, in April 2015. Read more
10. FDA issues draft guidance on clinical evaluation of gastroparesis drugs
The FDA issued a draft guidance on trial designs and endpoints for clinical evaluation of gastroparesis drugs in July 2015. Read more