Vedolizumab for the treatment of ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.

Abstract

Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are chronic, relapsing inflammatory disorders of the GI tract. In both Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, leukocytic infiltration of the mucosa is associated with epithelial damage. Recently, monoclonal antibodies directed against cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) involved in leukocyte extravasation have been developed. Natalizumab, the first drug brought to market targeting CAMs, is clinically effective but is associated with serious adverse effects including the uncommon, but often fatal, neurological disease progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. Vedolizumab targets a subset of the CAMs blocked by natalizumab and is currently in Phase III trials to study its efficacy and safety in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Here, we discuss the current treatment options available for patients with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, the history of CAM inhibitors, the current state of development of vedolizumab and its future role in inflammatory bowel disease, if approved by regulatory agencies.

• Authors: Leon P McLean, Terez Shea-Donohue, Raymond K Cross
• Journal: Immunotherapy (Immunotherapy) Vol. 4 Issue 9 Pg. 883-98 (Sep 2012) ISSN: 1750-7448 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 23046232 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Review)

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
• vedolizumab

Topics

• Animals
• Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized (adverse effects, pharmacokinetics, pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Colitis, Ulcerative (drug therapy)
• Crohn Disease (drug therapy)
• Drug and Narcotic Control
• Humans