Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a major type of chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
UC is characterized by chronic inflammation of the intestines resulting from inappropriate activation of the immune system. The etiology of UC is multifactorial and incompletely understood. Genetic factors play an important role, but are not the sole explanation. There is increasing evidence supporting a microbial influence on pathogenesis.1
Anti-inflammatory and immuosuppressive drugs are currently the mainstays of optimal medical therapy, though some patients fail to respond and require surgery to control inflammation and complications.2
Currently, medical treatment with a variety of drugs is the standard treatment option, but are inadequate for many patients. A significant minority of patients will require colectomy to mange their disease.3
Given the possibility that alterations in the intestinal microbiota may be responsible for driving the inflammation seen in UC, there has been interest in developing microbiota-based therapeutic options.
A microbiota-based therapeutic under the MRT™ drug platform is currently undergoing feasibility testing.
References
- Anderson JL, Edney RJ, Whelan K. Systematic review: Faecal microbiota transplantation in the management of inflammatory bowel disease. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2012;36:503-16.
- Kump P, Grochenig HP, Lackner S, et al. Alteration of intestinal dysbiosis by fecal microbiota transplantation does not induce remission in patient with chronic active ulcerative colitis. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2013;19:2155-65.
- Moayyedi P, Surette MG, Kim PT, et al. Fecal microbiota transplantation induces remission in patients with active ulcerative colitis in a randomized controlled trial. Gastroenterology. 2015l;149:102-09.