• About Us
• Technology
• Partnering
• Diseases
• Product Pipeline
• Investors and media
• Careers
• Contact

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• Dansk

• 2008

  28 August 2008: Announcement no. 2, 2008: Zealand Pharma today announced that Dr. David H...

  Read More >

• Product Pipeline

  Zealand's Pipeline comprises 1 compound in phase III, 2 compounds in phase II, 3 compounds ...

  Read More >

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis are two distinct, lifelong Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD) of unknown etiology. Both conditions are characterized by sporadic inflammation (flare-up) followed by spontaneous recovery (remission) of regions within the gastrointestinal tract. The most common symptoms of IBD include abdominal pain, cramping, fatigue and diarrhea.

The primary differences between Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis are the localization of the inflammation and appearance of the inflammation.

In Crohn’s Disease, the inflammation is primarily localized in the last part of the small intestine and the first part of the large intestine (colon), but can occur anywhere throughout the gastrointestinal tract. The inflammation generally tends to involve the entire intestinal wall (transmural) and the intestine acquires a patchy appearance (areas of damaged inflamed mucosa and areas of normal mucosa).

In Ulcerative Colitis, the inflammation is localized exclusively in the large intestine. The inflammation affects only the inner lining of the large intestine and develops in a continuous manner from the distal to the proximal large intestine.

Current therapies in IBD aim to relieve and/or to prevent inflammation with anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g. aminosalicylates (5-ASAs), topical and systemic steroids), immunosuppressive agents (e.g. mercaptopurine) or biologics (e.g. Infliximab). Although surgery is considered as a last resort, removal of the affected section of the bowel is an effective cure for Ulcerative Colitis.

The efficacies of these therapies are, nevertheless, suboptimal and consequently, there is an “unmet need” for novel, more efficacious therapeutic approaches. Induction of rapid repair and regeneration of the small intestinal epithelium may enhance recovery and prevent inflammation in IBD.

 

Home   Legal Disclaimer   Updated: 9.10.2008