Gastrointestinal & Hepatology

Diseases that affect the gastrointestinal tract and the liver can cause severe life-altering symptoms that can lead to devastating physical, emotional, and social effects. Some, like liver fibrosis progressing to cirrhosis, can also be life threatening. Pfizer is dedicated to discovering new treatments for these conditions to help patients live longer and improve their quality of life.

Gastrointestinal & Hepatologic Conditions

Indications for medicines currently in phases of development, from Phase 1 through to recent approval:

• Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) – Movement of acidic stomach contents back into the oesophagus, leading to symptoms including heartburn. GERD affects 50 million people in the U.S., with an estimated 20 percent dissatisfied with their current medication and its ability to relieve and control their symptoms. Pfizer is working to investigate novel ways to bring greater relief to patients with this unpleasant disease.
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) – Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's Disease – Inflammation and/or ulceration of the inner lining of the large intestine (colon), characterized by abdominal pain, diarrhea, and rectal bleeding. IBD adversely affects many patients' lives, often leading to sleep loss as well as career and social implications. Pfizer is working to develop new, more effective approaches to treat IBD.
• Liver Fibrosis – Refers to the scarring of the liver caused by chronic viral hepatitis (Hepatitis B or C) or fatty liver (related to obesity). If the fibrosis is left untreated, the condition can progress to cirrhosis for which the only treatment is liver transplant. While there are no current therapies to treat this disease, which affects some 15 million patients in the U.S. alone, Pfizer is leading research for medicines to treat liver fibrosis halting, or even reversing, its progression toward cirrhosis.

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