Remicade's efficiency in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease is well established. It was first approved in the United States for the treatment of Crohn's disease in 1998.Remicade remains to this day the only anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy indicated for the treatment of Chron's. With this new approval for the treatment of ulcerative colitis, Remicade is now the only biologic indicated for the treatment of both types of inflammatory bowel diseases.
"The approval of Remicade for the treatment of UC represents a major breakthrough for patients suffering from this often debilitating disease," says William J. Sandborn, M.D., professor of medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and head of the IBD Interest Group and director of the IBD Clinical Research Unit at Mayo Medical Center.
"Not only did many patients in clinical trials experience a significant reduction in the occurrence of symptom flare-ups with Remicade, some achieved clinical remission and mucosal healing as well. This is welcome news for these patients whose only option otherwise may have been surgery to remove their colons."
Remicade is also indicated for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis.
