MEDICATIONS
The classes of medications used to treat IBD include:
■ Aminosalicylates
■ Biologic therapies
■ Corticosteroids
■ Immunomodulators
NEWEST MEDICATION
The newest medication to emerge for ulcerative colitis are:
Tofacitinib (Xeljanz)
Xeljanz belongs to a class of medications known as Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors. These drugs block the enzyme JAK, which activates cells of the immune system to produce inflammation.
Biosimilars
Biosimilars are a fairly new class of drugs that are intended to mimic the effects of biologics. Like biologics, these drugs target immune system proteins that contribute to inflammation.
CLINICAL TRIALS
Clinical trials are a way to test new drugs that help relieve or cure diseases. Far too often black people are left out of clinical trials. There is a push to correct that. There is a current clinical trial for African Americans with IBD, ulcerative colitis or Chron’s, the Multi-Center African-American Inflammatory Bowel Disease Study (MAAIS) given by NIH.gov