THERAPEUTIC AREAS

Gastroenterology

Functional urological and gastrointestinal disorders are interrelated and characterized by chronic development and poor treatment efficacy, so common pathways can be investigated.

services

innovation

Definition

Gastroenterology deals with the physiology and pathophysiology of the organs of the digestive system. It involves the study and treatment of disorders of organs from mouth to anus along the alimentary canal. These include the esophagus, the stomach, the intestine (small and large) and rectum, as well as the microbiota associated with these mucosal surfaces.

Hepatology and hepatobiliary medicine are subspecialties of gastroenterology and include the study and treatment of disorders affecting the liver, gallbladder and pancreas. Gastroenterology is recognized as a branch of internal medicine that includes interventional endoscopy and is complemented by surgical gastroenterology.

Epidemiology

An estimated 19.9% of the general population suffer from chronic digestive disorders, with the prevalence being as high as 35% for those aged 65 and over. Both benign and malignant pathologies affect digestive organs.

Irritable bowel syndrome, a non-malignant functional disorder of the intestine, is the most frequent condition seen in gastroenterologist practices.

The incidence of chronic inflammatory diseases of the intestine such as Crohn’s disease increases continuously, whereas the incidence of ulcerative colitis appears to have steadied.

Infectious pathologies of the digestive system are also quite prevalent, ranging from peptic ulcers (10% of the population in Western countries), to diarrheal diseases (the second leading cause of death in children under five) or infectious hepatitis.

Medical need

Functional urological and gastrointestinal disorders are interrelated and characterized by chronic development and poor treatment efficacy, so common pathways can be investigated and integrated care approaches could develop in future.

For cancers of the digestive system, improved therapies and precision/personalized medicine could help to address the global challenge of such diseases.

For chronic inflammatory diseases and functional disorders of the digestive tract, it is necessary to develop research towards tissue repair, reinstatement of tissue functions, and tissue homeostasis. Again, precision/personalized medicine options are very much needed considering the widespread etiology of such diseases.

New tools for the detection of emerging pathogens and to study mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance are also very much needed to improve therapy. For all such pathologies, the effect of environmental triggers has now been ascertained. Potentially the most important challenge will involve prevention through dietary and lifestyle measures.

Urosphere’s positioning

Urosphere has an extensive portfolio of gastro-intestinal pathophysiological models including those based on inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome and transit disorders. The company also possesses considerable expertise with in vitro models, providing clients with a comprehensive assessment of all aspects of gastro-intestinal functions.

associated project

Urosphere has established a partnership with the Institut de Recherche en Santé Digestive (irsd, France) to develop and characterize gastrointestinal organoids from human colon.

UGGINNOV

Our Services & Innovation

Urosphere’s experimental platform consists of both in vivo and in vitro pharmacological assays. We also provide access to a unique biobank of PDX preclinical models from urogenital cancers.

Finally, Urophere offers consultancy services for the preclinical development of your compounds.