Traditional medical treatment of Crohn's disease includes drugs such as 5-asa's, immunomodulators, and corticosteroids. Although these conventional therapies can be used for managing the disease for many, a substantial number of patients are refractory to these treatments. Furthermore, complications such as perianal fistulas can be resistant to medical treatment, and treatment with these agents can be associated with significant adverse events (1).
Recent research efforts have increased our understanding of the underlying pathogenesis of Crohn's disease and have led to the research and development of biologic therapies that have the ability to target specific molecular interactions involved in the pathogenesis of Crohn's disease (1).
- Van Deventer S. Biological therapies of inflammatory bowel disease. In Satsangi J, Sutherland LR, eds. Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. London: Churchill Livingstone. Elsevier Limited, 2003: 431-51.