New Medication for Crohn's Disease

Crohn's disease is a chronic, sometimes severe, condition in which the immune system begins to attack the flora found in the gastrointestinal system, causing inflammation, pain, vomiting and diarrhea. Even though the cause of the disease still eludes researchers, treatment options are becoming more innovative and numerous each year.

Infliximab

• An international study led by the Mayo Clinic and presented at the 2008 American College of Gastroenterology Annual Meeting looked at more than 500 Crohn's patients. It found that scientifically created antibodies, such as infliximab, may be more effective in treating the disease than previously thought. In the study, sponsored by the makers of infliximab, 57 percent of those treated with this antibody and azathioprine went into remission. About 30 percent of those treated with azathioprine alone went into remission.

Considerations

• After 15 years of research, London professor John Hermon-Taylor has developed a new theory arguing that Crohn's disease is caused by a single bacterium, mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis, and that a simple vaccine may be the answer to curing the disease.

Rifaximin

• Working from the theory that Crohn's disease is caused by bacteria, research has begun to investigate the effects and the potential uses of an antibiotic used for traveler's diarrhea, rifaximin, or Xifaxan, for Crohn's disease patients.

Natalizumab

• Developers of a drug conventionally used for some forms of multiple sclerosis, natalizumab, or Tysabri, filed a permit with the Food and Drug Administration to get the medication approved for Crohn's disease treatment after a study conducted by the makers showed the drug had some success in treating Crohn's.

Cell Receptor Antibodies

• Clinical research has found that antibodies specifically targeted at certain cell receptors that are important in Crohn's disease inflammation may be successful in treating the disease.