A drug known as ustekinumab (Stelara) has been found to show promise in treating Crohn’s disease in cases where other treatments have been unsuccessful. Stelara blocks inflammatory agents interleukin-12 and interleukin-23. It has been used to treat psoriasis – and most recently, approved to treat Crohn’s disease.
Coauthor of the study Dr. William Sandborn explained, “Stelara is effective for treatment leading to a clinical remission in patients with moderate to severe Crohn’s disease.”
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Remission was described as relief of abdominal pain and diarrhea.
Dr. Sandborn said Stelara is well tolerated and the researchers, “did not see increased rates of serious infection or cancer, compared with patients who received placebo. These patients had limited treatment options previously, so this is a big advance. It is also very convenient for patients — the maintenance dosing is only once every eight weeks and patients can inject themselves.”
The researchers conducted the study on two groups of patients, one with over 700 patients and the other over 600. These patients had not responded to other forms of Crohn’s disease treatments – they either did not benefit from treatment, or suffered side effects. The patients received Stelara or a placebo.
Those who responded to Stelara were further divided to either receive regular injections of the drug or a placebo.
After 44 weeks, 53 percent of those receiving Stelara every eight weeks went into remission. Of those taking it every 12 weeks, 49 percent went into remission.
Stelara is covered by most insurance companies and the cost will vary.
The findings were published in New England Journal of Medicine.
Mohan Garikiparithi got his degree in medicine from Osmania University (University of Health Sciences). He practiced clinical medicine for over a decade before he shifted his focus to the field of health communications. During his active practice he served as the head of the Dept. of Microbiology in a diagnostic centre in India. On a three-year communications program in Germany, Mohan developed a keen interest in German Medicine (Homoeopathy), and other alternative systems of medicine. He now advocates treating different medical conditions without the use of traditional drugs. An ardent squash player, Mohan believes in the importance of fitness and wellness.
