INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASES - A NEW-WAVE OF THERAPY

This review focuses on recent advances in the pathogenesis of inflamma tory bowel diseases (IBDs) and current developments in claimed patents for the management of these diseases. These are developed in the hope of replacing conventional corticosteroids, 5-aminosalicylic acids (5- ASA) and immunosuppressants which have been the mainstay of therapy fo r decades. These patents represent a change in direction to more speci fic therapies to block a host of inflammatory mediators, either at the ir synthesis level or blocking binding to their designated receptors. The changes also represent a shift from synthetic inhibitors to biolog icals for which the in vivo efficacy and side-effects need to be evalu ated. These advancements represent a new wave of therapy to treat thes e debilitating diseases.