New approach may prevent deadly intestinal disease in preemies

Scientists from Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and colleagues found that an investigational protein replacement—recombinant human insulin-like growth factor 1 and its binding protein-3 (rhIGF-1/BP3)—protected neonatal mice from necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a deadly intestinal disease that often strikes extremely premature infants. Results were published in the journal Pediatric Research.