Risankizumab for moderate to severe crohn’s disease


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Indications: Crohn's disease
Therapeutic Areas: Gastroenterology , Immunology
Year: 2021

Risankizumab is in development as a treatment option for moderate to severe Crohn’s disease (CD). CD is a type of inflammatory bowel disease which can affect any part of the digestive system. CD causes inflammation and ulceration, which affects food digestion, nutrient absorption, and waste elimination. Symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhoea, weight loss and fatigue. There is no cure for CD so treatment options focus on managing and relieving symptoms. Patients may have periods of time when they are not suffering from symptoms (remission) or have flare-ups of symptoms (relapses). Additional treatments are required for CD as some patients don’t respond to initial therapy.
Risankizumab is in development as a subcutaneous maintenance injection with intravenous induction for moderate to severe CD. It is a man-made protein that acts like antibodies within the human immune system. It specifically binds to a particular cytokine which prevents activation of the immune system which subsequently reduces inflammation. This drug is innovative as it binds to a novel target. If licensed, risankizumab will offer an additional treatment for patients with CD.