Gastroenterology is continuing to be an active area of clinical research. The demand for gastroenterology clinical trials is high as the up-to-date information is crucial for professional physicians.
Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are normally diagnosed by finding a chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is the ordinary name of these two illnesses. Researchers work on understanding the IBD’s causes, which are known to be a combination of genetics, immune system function decline and environmental triggers.
The aim to boost immune system leads to unconventional innovations like fecal transplants, which help in restoring healthy bacteria inside the body, are showing promising results in preventing from Clostridium difficile colitis or inflammatory bowel disease. With such exciting research and development of gastroenterology, the potential to alter patient’s microbiome in hopes of achieving better clinical outcomes is upon us.
As genes related to Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are increasingly being discovered, new medications are being developed and clinical trials are focused on biological therapies. These chronic medical conditions can be overcome with targeting on tumor necrosis factor (TNF) which is an inflammatory protein or blocking certain types of white blood cells from getting into inflamed tissues. In the former case, the efficacy of adalimumab, certolizumab pegol, golimumab and infliximab is being investigated in clinical trials, and in the latter case, biologic drugs such as natalizumab and vedolizumab.
Celiac disease is another trend of gastroenterology clinical trials. This autoimmune disease forces to follow a strict gluten free diet. To avoid damage of intestine, researchers take into consideration not only behavioral aspects like strict following of diet without gluten but also try to develop daily products like gluten free toothpaste. Medical agents (like Probiotics, Pancrelipase, Budesonide) are being investigated in Phase 4 celiac disease clinical trials.
