Publications

Diagnosis and treatment of patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease – a systematic review of cost-effectiveness and economic burden

The systematic review reveals a significant economic burden from GERD, driven by both high direct costs of treatment and diagnostics (especially with traditional invasive methods) and indirect costs related to work absenteeism and reduced productivity. Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) are cost-effective for most patients, but new diagnostic tools and therapies, such as wireless pH capsules and novel acid blockers, are emerging as potentially more efficient yet costly alternatives. For the eCAP project, these findings underscore the value of a minimally invasive, implantable capsule and e-health platform, which could reduce the need for hospital-based diagnostics and repeated interventions. By enabling remote, real-time GI monitoring through an integrated smartphone and cloud-based system, eCAP has the potential to lower overall GERD management costs and improve access to advanced diagnostics, particularly in low-resource settings.

Citation: Maresova, P., Rezny, L., Hruska, J., Klimova, B., Swanstrom, L. L., & Kuca, K. (2024). Diagnosis and treatment of patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease – a systematic review of cost-effectiveness and economic burden. In BMC Health Services Research (Vol. 24, Number 1351). BMC Health Services Research.

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State-of-the-art and future perspectives in ingestible remotely controlled smart capsules for drug delivery: A GENEGUT review

This review paper considers the state of the art in smart capsules for targeted and controlled drug delivery in the GI tract, for conditions such as IBD (Irritable Bowel Disease). The underpinning technology platforms and knowhow needed to enable these devices is being advanced through the eCAP project, and although eCAP is designed only as a diagnostic device, some of the research outputs of the eCAP project will also support the roadmap for smart capsules for GI therapeutics. eCAP is advancing component development (such as antenna design), together with manufacturing processes for integration and miniaturisation of the electronic system. The eCAP project is also identifying and addressing challenges and constraints associated with smart capsule design, manufacturing and integration, and this article reviews these aspects in considerable detail.

Citation: Hoffmann, S. V., O'Shea, J., Galvin, P., Jannin, V., & Griffin, B. (2024). State-of-the-art and future perspectives in ingestible remotely controlled smart capsules for drug delivery: A GENEGUT review. In European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Vol. 203, p. 106911)

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