Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) refers to a group of chronic illnesses which are characterized by inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, often requiring lifelong medications. Inflammatory Bowel Disease affects over one million individuals in the U.S. with that number evenly split between two types of the diseases: ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.

Ulcerative colitis, the focus of Cerimon Pharmaceutical’s development efforts in the area of IBD, can cause chronic, relapsing inflammation of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Symptoms range from mild to severe and may include abdominal pain, diarrhea, blood loss, fever, malnutrition and fatigue. Whereas Crohn’s disease can affect any region of the GI tract, ulcerative colitis affects only the large intestine and may include the rectum. The prognosis of ulcerative colitis is unpredictable and depends in part on the extent of involvement.

While there currently is no cure for ulcerative colitis, there are several medications available to treat the disease, including sulfa drugs, corticosteroids, immunosuppressive agents, and antibiotics. Effective medical treatment of ulcerative colitis accomplishes two important goals: it permits the colon to heal, and it also relieves the symptoms of diarrhea, rectal bleeding, and abdominal pain.

Despite available medical treatments, there are still many patients whose medical needs are not being addressed adequately.

For more information on ulcerative colitis and other forms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease, please visit The Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America’s website at www.ccfa.org