Vendor Highlights - updated daily

Vendor Highlights - updated daily

Focusing on innovative technology, news, and advertisements regarding gastrointestinal endoscopy. Vendor Highlights provides ease of access into the window of tomorrow.

Knowledge Pursuit LLC, does not endorse, recommend, monitor any products, services, organizations, or companies listed in Vendor Highlights of ENDO Directory.

Physician Authors Editorial on Cost-Effectiveness Study for Colon Cancer Screening
A UNC physician authored an editorial in the July 27 online issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute (JNCI) commenting on results of an analysis of the cost effectiveness of colonoscopy versus computed tomographic colonography (CTC).
The cost effectiveness analysis concluded that CTC or “virtual” colonoscopy is not cost effective compared with colonoscopy if reimbursed at the same rate as colonoscopy.
Both CT colonography and colonoscopy examine the inside of the colon (the large intestine) for either cancer or large polyps (growths that could become cancer). CTC colonography does this examination indirectly, using a CT scan (a type of x-ray). Colonoscopy does this examination directly, using a camera on the end of a tube inserted into the colon.
Unfortunately, there has been no “comparative effectiveness” study to compare the benefits and harms of CTC with colonoscopy. So the researchers in the JNCI article used simulation models to compare the two tests in an unscreened population of Medicare beneficiaries ages 65 to 80 years. These models use mathematics to estimate what would happen if one used one test compared with the other.
Russell Harris, MD, MPH, professor of medicine at UNC and a member of UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, wrote the editorial accompanying the cost-effectiveness study.
In his editorial, Harris notes that cost-effectiveness analyses are useful, but that they often cannot include some important considerations. In this case, Harris shows how the cost-effectiveness analysis could not include some of the potential harms of both CTC and colonoscopy. For example, CTC often leads to finding abnormalities outside the colon (such as in the kidneys or adrenal glands) that require further testing and even surgery, yet finding these abnormalities usually does not help people live longer.
Colonoscopy often leads to removing small polyps that do not need to be removed, yet their removal may lead to complications such as excessive bleeding.
In the end, Harris suggests that neither CTC nor colonoscopy are ideal screening tests. He concludes: “Wouldn’t it be interesting if we ended up, a few years from now, with neither CTC nor colonoscopy as the primary screening test, but rather an improved fecal test as our gold standard.”
Harris is a national expert on cancer screening issues. He has served on the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, a group that conducts scientific evidence reviews of a broad range of clinical preventive health care services and develops recommendations for primary care clinicians and health systems.
(NewsWise, 7/31/10)

Merck Grants License To LabCorp To Develop Test To Identify Patients Likely To Respond To Hepatitis C Therapy - Quick Facts
Merck & Co. Inc. announced a non-exclusive license agreement with Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings for the commercialization of a genetic test that may help predict the response of patients with Hepatitis C virus infection to peginterferon alpha-based therapy.
LabCorp has developed an in vitro genetic test designed to identify the presence of the IL-28B polymorphism in patients, which studies suggest may be associated with successful response to peginterferon alpha-based therapy, the current standard-of-care in HCV treatment.
The association of IL-28B polymorphism with peginterferon alpha response was identified by Merck in collaboration with other researchers through a genome-wide association study of nearly 1,700 individuals with HCV genotype 1 who participated in the IDEAL study, which was sponsored by Merck. Under the terms of the agreement, LabCorp would pay a Merck affiliate, a one-time payment and royalties for tests covered under the agreement in exchange for a license to the Merck affiliate’s patent rights covering the detection and use of the IL-28B polymorphism.
(RTTNews, 7/30/10)

Exact Sciences Obtains Exclusive License to OncoMethylome Sciences’ DNA Methylation Biomarkers
Exact Sciences Corp. and OncoMethylome Sciences S.A. announced that they have entered into a license agreement under which Exact Sciences has obtained exclusive, worldwide rights to up to two OncoMethylome Sciences’ DNA methylation biomarkers for use in stool-based detection of colorectal cancer. Exact Sciences has also gained non-exclusive access to part of OncoMethylome’s platform technology. In return, OncoMethylome will receive milestone payments and royalties on net sales.
DNA methylation regulates gene expression, and multiple scientific studies have shown that methylation markers are clinically relevant markers for colorectal cancer. In cancers and pre-cancers, methylation biomarkers are typically present more frequently than individual DNA mutation biomarkers, and as a result, fewer methylation markers are required to detect most cancers and pre-cancers.
"We are delighted to be able to add new markers to our current test panel," said Kevin T. Conroy, president and chief executive of Exact Sciences. "Our team has developed a new approach to stool-DNA testing that uniquely includes multiple methylation markers in a single assay, and achieves exceptionally high sensitivity and specificity. The inclusion of these markers makes us even more confident about the likelihood of success with our upcoming validation study, the results of which we plan to discuss on October 29, 2010, at the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) colorectal cancer meeting in Philadelphia. We also look forward to presenting preliminary performance data on the combination of methylation biomarkers in colorectal cancer and pre-cancer tissue tomorrow, July 28, 2010, at the American Association of Clinical Chemistry (AACC) annual meeting in Anaheim, Calif."
"We believe that the combination of our biomarkers and platform with the test panel of Exact Sciences holds great promise for the development of a very powerful detection tool for colorectal cancer," stated Jan Groen, president and chief executive officer of OncoMethylome Sciences. "Exact Sciences has made impressive progress in the development of their test panel, and this licensing agreement allows OncoMethylome to more rapidly and effectively capitalize on the value of its colon cancer program."
(MarketWatch, 7/28/10)

EndoChoice® Triples Facility Space to Address Growing Customer Base
EndoChoice, Inc. announced that it has moved its corporate headquarters to a new location in Alpharetta, Georgia. The new 30,000 square foot corporate headquarters is three times larger than its previous facility, and features a state-of-the-art GI anatomic pathology laboratory.
"We are very pleased with a seamless move into our new corporate headquarters," stated EndoChoice CEO and Founder Mark Gilreath. "With space for the R&D of GI devices and supplies, and a GI specialty diagnostic laboratory, our new facility highlights the complete focus on endoscopy that makes EndoChoice truly unique to the medical technology industry."
EndoChoice Pathology is a national reference laboratory accredited by the College of American Pathologists (CAP). The GI specialty laboratory is led by Medical Director, Dr. Robert Smith. "Our recent lab expansion and investments in technology enable EndoChoice to provide unmatched service to the GI physician. It’s a very exciting time for our company," said Smith.
(PRNewswire, 7/27/10)

Irritable Bowel Syndrome Causes Structural Brain Alterations In Patients
A study has shown that irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a condition that causes pain and discomfort in the abdomen, may lead to structural changes in specific brain regions in female patients.
The findings show that IBS is associated with both decreases and increases in grey matter density in key areas of the brain involved in attention, emotion regulation, pain inhibition and the processing of visceral information.
These study findings show actual structural changes to the brain, which places IBS in the category of other pain disorders, such as lower back pain, temporomandibular joint disorder, migraines and hip pain - conditions in which some of the same anatomical brain changes have been observed, as well as other changes.
"Discovering structural changes in the brain, whether they are primary or secondary to the gastrointestinal symptoms, demonstrates an ’organic’ component to IBS and supports the concept of a brain-gut disorder," said Dr. Emeran Mayer of University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
"Also, the finding removes the idea once and for all that IBS symptoms are not real and are ’only psychological.’ The findings will give us more insight into better understanding IBS," he said.
Researchers employed imaging techniques to examine and analyze brain anatomical differences between 55 female IBS patients and 48 female control subjects. Patients had moderate IBS severity, with disease duration from one to 34 years (average 11 years).
The average age of the participants was 31.
"The grey-matter changes in the posterior insula are particularly interesting since they may play a role in central pain amplification for IBS patients," said David A. Seminowicz, of McGill University.
"This particular finding may point to a specific brain difference or abnormality that plays a role in heightening pain signals that reach the brain from the gut," he said.
Decreases in grey matter in IBS patients occurred in several regions involved in attentional brain processes, which decide what the body should pay attention to.
The thalamus and midbrain also showed reductions, including a region - the periaqueductal grey - that plays a major role in suppressing pain.
"Reductions of grey matter in these key areas may demonstrate an inability of the brain to effectively inhibit pain responses," Seminowicz said.
The observed decreases in brain grey matter were consistent across IBS patient sub-groups, such as those experiencing more diarrhea-like symptoms than constipation.
"We noticed that the structural brain changes varied between patients who characterized their symptoms primarily as pain, rather than non-painful discomfort," said Mayer, director of the UCLA.
"In contrast, the length of time a patient has had IBS was not related to these structural brain changes," he added.
(SIFY News, 7/26/10)