Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease affecting about 500,000 Americans. Current treatments include anti-inflammatory drugs, immune suppressants, and biologic therapies that target specific inflammatory pathways. Many people achieve remission with existing medications, but about 30% still require surgery within ten years of diagnosis.
What's actually going on in research
Trials are testing new biologic drugs that block inflammatory proteins like IL-23 and IL-36, oral JAK inhibitors that work inside immune cells, stem cell therapies for fistulas, and drugs targeting the gut lining itself. Researchers are also studying how to predict which patients will respond to which treatments, and whether treating early can prevent complications.
IL-23 inhibitors
These biologics target a specific inflammatory pathway and appear to work in people who haven't responded to anti-TNF drugs like adalimumab. Several are FDA-approved for Crohn's disease, with more in testing.
JAK inhibitors
Oral pills that block inflammation inside immune cells, offering an alternative to injections or infusions. Upadacitinib received FDA approval for Crohn's disease in 2022.
Fistula treatments
Stem cell therapy delivered directly into fistula tracts aims to heal these painful complications. Studies are also testing combination approaches with existing biologics.
What to know before you search
Eligibility typically depends on disease severity measured by symptoms and endoscopy, location of disease in the digestive tract, prior treatments tried, and presence of complications like fistulas or strictures.
What types of trials are currently open
- Biologic trials — Testing new antibody treatments that target different parts of the immune system. Usually given by injection or infusion.
- Oral medication trials — Testing pills like JAK inhibitors or other small molecules that can be taken at home instead of requiring infusions.
- Fistula trials — Testing stem cell therapy or other approaches to heal the abnormal tunnels that form between the intestine and other organs.
- Combination trials — Testing whether using two drugs together works better than one alone, especially for people with severe disease.
- Observational studies — Following people with Crohn's disease to understand disease patterns, treatment responses, and long-term outcomes.
Recently added Crohn's Disease trials
Investigating the Effect of the Non-nutritive Sweetener Sucralose in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
This study will focus on the commonly used non-nutritive sweetener (NNS) sucralose (2 sachets/day resulting in daily dose: sucralose 2.5mg/kg) and its role in changing the gut microbiota in humans with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), compared to healthy non-IBD individuals. We will focus on studying IBD patients affected with Crohn's Disease (CD) as a proof of principle that could be tested later in other IBD subtypes (ulcerative colitis or others specific surgical conditions).
Receive endoscopic treatment for Crohn's disease strictures
This multicenter, open-label, randomized controlled trial aims to compare the safety and immediate effectiveness of endoscopic stricturotomy (ES) and endoscopic balloon dilation (EBD) for the treatment of small bowel fibrotic strictures in patients with Crohn's disease. Eligible participants with Crohn's disease and small bowel fibrotic strictures will be randomly assigned to receive either endoscopic stricturotomy or endoscopic balloon dilation. The study will compare procedure-related bleeding or perforation between the two treatment groups and will also evaluate immediate technical success, defined by whether the enteroscope can pass through the treated stricture after the procedure. The study is intended to provide clinical evidence on the safety and feasibility of endoscopic stricturotomy as an endoscopic treatment option for small bowel fibrotic strictures in Crohn's disease.
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