Practice Management News

Despite a global increase in the rate of investment in medical research between 2004 and 2012, the rate of research investment has decreased in the United States, according to recent data published in JAMA.

A large number of new drugs and devices for a wide variety of indications in gastroenterology were approved by the FDA in 2014, ranging from advanced endoscopic imaging devices to multiple new drugs for inflammatory bowel disease, hepatitis C and gastrointestinal cancers.

Hepatitis C virus infection treatments Sovaldi and Harvoni will be exclusively available through CVS Caremark beginning on Wednesday, Jan. 7, according to a statement given to Healio.com/Hepatology from CVS Health.

Numerous developments were made in the field of hepatology this year, including orphan drug designation by the FDA for a hepatocellular carcinoma drug, as well as new, groundbreaking data on liver transplantation, cirrhosis and drug-induced liver injury, presented at the biggest hepatology conferences. Using web analytics, social media and expert opinion, Healio.com/Hepatology has compiled a list of some of the most important, relevant research and news in hepatology presented during the past year.

In a phase 2a clinical trial, treatment with beclabuvir and a combination of pegylated interferon alfa-2a and ribavirin was well tolerated among patients with hepatitis C virus genotype 1 infection, according to study data.

Children in China who received the hepatitis B virus infection vaccination at birth had a reduced risk for primary liver cancer and other liver diseases when reaching young adulthood, according to new study data.

Young adult injection drug users showed a decreased incidence rate for hepatitis C virus infection after undergoing maintenance opioid agonist treatment, according to study data.

People who consumed three or more cups of coffee per day lowered their chance of having high liver enzyme levels, indicating coffee could be associated with a healthy liver, according to study data.

Lonafarnib has been granted orphan drug designation by the FDA and European Medicines Agency for the treatment of hepatitis delta virus infection, according to Eiger BioPharmaceuticals Inc., manufacturer of the drug.

The American Pain Society recently announced it has released an agenda in support for underfunded research for developing new pain therapies, according to a press release.