The expanding therapeutic armamentarium for inflammatory bowel disease: How to choose the right drug[s] for our patients?

Abstract

The therapeutic landscape for inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] is rapidly evolving. Two new biologic drugs, vedolizumab and ustekinumab, have recently entered the marketplace, the first biosimilars have been introduced, and several other agents are at an advanced stage of clinical development. In parallel, therapeutic goals have shifted from symptom control towards mucosal healing and prevention of bowel damage. In the coming years, gastroenterologists will be faced with unprecedented choices when selecting the best treatment for their patients with IBD. In this article, we review existing data on the mechanisms of action, efficacy, and safety of recently approved and late-stage pipeline therapies, and use this information to speculate on the positioning of these drugs, alone or in combination, in therapeutic algorithms for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.