The future of UC meds?

i wonder what the future holds for UC meds, it seems quite a bit of research is finally going into developing helpful drugs. i'm really interseted what is next

I don't know, all the meds coming down the pipeline seem to be more of the same ... mesalamines with varying delivery systems (Asacol, Colazol, Lialda) and biologics (Remicade, Humira, orencia, etc.). I have great hopes for stem cell research for all the auto-immune diseases, but I don't think they are anywhere close to coming up for human trials, let alone common use.

After struggling with UC for almost four years and most of the medicines making me sicker or not making a difference (with the exception of a couple of years of eased symptoms on Remicade) I finally decided to take the plunge and get the surgery. I hesitated for a long time because it was such a permanent decision and I was afraid I'd have the surgery and then hear they found the cure, but the more I thought about it the more I felt that I couldn't wait any longer to get my health back.

I had the surgery in January and am awaiting take down now. It's no picnic, but I am getting my energy back and am looking forward to take down and losing the temporary ileostomy. I plan to spend the summer working part time (I am self-employed and we're a dual income family, so I am lucky to have that choice) and concentrating on regaining my fitness. My UC flares sapped my energy so much I could rarely get to the gym and I just want to take care of myself for awhile.

Everyone had to make their own decisions of course, and it took me awhile to decide on the surgery, but if you are struggling with medications that aren't working, keep an open mind. Yes, a medicinal cure may be in the future, but how many years do you want to spend feeling poorly while you wait for it? At this point in time surgery is the only treatment that is considered the "cure" for UC.

Meesh

As far as I am concerned Nature has built all the locks, therefore Nature has all the keys. So I am biased for a cure that is more or less natural. For a few that could mean some kind of anti-inflammatory diet, for example some have had success with the SCD diet. Probiotics seem to help those whose UC diagnosis resulted after taking massive antibiotics. Childbirth seems to be another popular trigger but I don’t know how to explain that.

One promising avenue to explore is how researchers trigger UC in their test animals. One reliable method is to feed their animals carrageenan. That works for some humans too, like myself. But what are the other ways? Can a researcher or somebody enlighten us by listing the various ways to induce ulcerative colitis in animals?

Post Edited (BabeintheWoods) : 3/1/2010 7:58:48 AM (GMT-7)

My hope is that future research will identify the underlying cause or causes and not just develop another nonspecific drug aimed at symptomatic relief. Perhaps the UC triggers that BabeintheWoods mentions will help move us in that direction.

there's nothing new coming along, med wise. Just more & more of the biologics, which are all basically differnet forms of tnf blockers. That's it! Stem cell stuff is interesting, but it'll be decades before anything involving stem cells is put to use for any disease or condition. No one should get their hopes up waiting for a new med, it's just not going to happen for a very long time. Maybe some other alternative method will pop up, but that's not a cure for the masses. I'm a little... I don't know how to put it, but I really don't care what causes UC. If I can find a good combination of things, medicines, supplements, etc. that allow me to function, then I'm cool with it.

Have hope! In 2005 I was involved in a clinical trial called Adacolumn at Clevelan Clinic. It is a procedure where they take your blood out of your right arm spin it through the Adacolumn then put it back into your left arm. The process takes about an hour and you do it 2 times a week the 1st 2 weeks then it's once a week for 12 weeks. I was in the blind study at 1st and I saw no change later I found out I was getting the placebo. I was then put in the study where I knew I was getting the process and I did see improvement. They are currently doing this in parts of Europe & Japan. After the initial round you play around with it to determin how ofter you need to go back as a maintenance, they sain it should be maybe once a month to stay in remission but YEAH no more pills. The study is over so I'm back to my old frie-emy (friend & enemy) prednisone. I hope that the FDA will release this process to the US soon. I was almost in remission after 12 weeks, I think if I just had 2 or 3 more treatments I would have been good but the trial would only let you go for 12 weeks. The only side effect I had was a headache right after since the blood was moving through so fast but it went away after I would drink something with caffine. Hang in there!

actually the new biologic vedolizumab is not a TNF blocker and instead binds to something that encourages the migration of white blood cells into the GI tissue, which causes bowel inflammation. unfortunately i think it's only effective 40% of the time in patients, similar to humira and remicade - but with none of the TNF blocker side effects. it should be FDA approved around 2012, while humira may finally receive FDA approval for UC this year.

The University of Chicago is proposing a clinical trial of fecal transplantation for UC. They are submitting the grant this spring, with hopes of funding for next fall. I attended a focus group on how to position the study to attract candidates, and address the many concerns.
I'll be attending the CCFA symposium, also in Chgo. in a few weeks-if I learn of anything interesting, I'll post it. They run a nice conference, and I always learn something.

suenew61 said...
Anyone seen the trials/research done with retarded release phosphatidylcholine?
Google with "Reinforcing the Mucous" and it will take you to GUT scientific publications.
A lot of what is proposed fits in with other research info. that I have found for UC but as yet the retarded release form is not generally available.

Sounds promising. The good news is that this therapy or others like it may eventually work. The bad news is that please notice that research like this only seems to occur outside of the USA. Big pharma is interested only in drugs that can be patented.

Drugs that patients have to take for life create substantial revenues for pharmaceutical companies; so it makes sense for companies to put their effort on developing these types of drugs.

subdued said...
Drugs that patients have to take for life create substantial revenues for pharmaceutical companies; so it makes sense for companies to put their effort on developing these types of drugs.

It's the unfortunate truth.