Can ulcerative colitis be cured? Exploring treatment methods and possibilities
Ulcerative colitis (UC), a form of inflammatory bowel disease that causes inflammation in the colon, has seen significant progress in its treatment options in recent years. Scientists are making frequent advances in medical research on UC, with the likelihood of developing new treatments to further improve the lives of people with this condition.
Treatment for UC aims to help relieve symptoms and increase the amount of time between flare-ups. The approved JAK inhibitor Xeljanz (tofacitinib) for use in the treatment of UC is one such example. However, it is essential to note that these remedies should not be used as a standalone treatment and should only be used alongside traditional medical treatments.
A person's treatment for UC depends on the severity of their symptoms and the frequency of the flare-ups. For those with severe UC, surgery may be an option to remove their colon during a colectomy or their colon and rectum during a proctocolectomy.
In addition to traditional treatments, recent research has led to the development of some new treatments for UC, including biosimilars and JAK inhibitors. A 2019 study showed that 57% of people with UC who used probiotics had a positive experience, with half saying their positive experience was due to significant improvements in their quality of life.
Herbal medicines may also reduce UC symptoms, including aloe vera gel, wheatgrass juice, Andrographis paniculata extract, Plantago ovata seeds, and Boswellia serrata gum resin. Aminosalicylates are one of the first treatment options for people with mild to moderate and moderate to severe UC. Corticosteroids are a common treatment for UC and lower the activity of the immune system to reduce inflammation in the colon. Probiotics can help with the growth of beneficial bacteria in the digestive tract and may ease the symptoms of UC.
Doctors prescribe biologics to people with UC to help them achieve remission and remain in remission for longer. Biologics are medications that target cells and proteins present in a person's immune system that are responsible for UC. These medications can attack cells and reduce a person's immune response, which is helpful when treating UC.
The latest advancements in UC treatments include the successful Phase 3 clinical trial of obefazimod, a first-in-class oral miR-124 enhancer. Obefazimod demonstrated a statistically significant clinical remission rate in moderate to severe UC patients, including those who failed prior treatments like JAK inhibitors. Additionally, newer oral treatments such as RINVOQ (upadacitinib) are gaining traction due to improved safety and efficacy profiles compared to earlier JAK inhibitors like XELJANZ (tofacitinib) and JYSELECA (filgotinib).
More broadly, there has been a significant increase in the use of advanced targeted therapies over the past two decades that modulate specific immune pathways, resulting in better long-term disease management and reductions in surgical interventions like colectomy. These advancements allow for more personalized treatment approaches, improving patient outcomes by controlling inflammation more effectively.
Emerging therapies targeting interleukin-23 (IL-23) and other immune mediators are also being explored to promote symptom resolution, mucosal healing, and histologic remission in moderate-to-severe UC patients. Innovative therapeutic strategies based on restoring redox homeostasis in the colon epithelial cells — specifically targeting oxidative stress pathways — represent a promising new conceptual approach to addressing UC pathogenesis and enhancing treatment outcomes.
These advancements represent significant progress toward more effective, safer, and patient-friendly treatment options for UC as of mid-2025. Further data, especially long-term maintenance results like those expected for obefazimod in 2026, will clarify their full clinical impact.
It is important to note that there is no known cure for UC, and a person may have the condition throughout their life. People with UC should avoid eating foods high in insoluble fiber, lactose, nonabsorbable sugars, sugary foods, high fat foods, alcohol and caffeinated drinks, and spicy foods during flare-ups. Biologics can attack cells and reduce a person's immune response, which is helpful when treating UC, but they can also cause a number of side effects and roughly half of people undergoing this procedure experience some form of complication.
References:
[1] https://www.nature.com/articles/s41434-021-01741-7 [2] https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-25835-9 [3] https://www.nature.com/articles/s41564-019-0425-y [4] https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-019-09351-0 [5] https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-73808-0
- Recent advancements in ulcerative colitis (UC) treatment systems have shown significant progress, with scientists frequently establishing new entities to further improve the lives of treatmentseekers.
- The approved JAK inhibitor Xeljanz (tofacitinib) is one such new treatment, demonstrating promising results for people with established UC.
- However, these remedies should not be considered standalone treatments and should only be used concurrently with traditional medical treatments.
- The severity of UC symptoms and the frequency of flare-ups determine the treatment, with surgery options available for those with severe UC.
- Some new treatments for UC include biosimilars and JAK inhibitors, with 57% of UC patients reporting positive experiences after using probiotics in a 2019 study.
- Herbal medicines, such as aloe vera gel, wheatgrass juice, and Boswellia serrata gum resin, may also reduce UC symptoms.
- Aminosalicylates are one of the first treatment options for people with UC, while corticosteroids lower the immune system's activity to reduce inflammation in the colon.
- Probiotics can help with the growth of beneficial bacteria in the digestive tract and may ease UC symptoms.
- Biologics, which target immune cells and proteins responsible for UC, are prescribed to help achieve and maintain remission in UC patients.
- The latest advancements in UC treatments, such as obefazimod and RINVOQ (upadacitinib), offer improved safety and efficacy profiles over earlier JAK inhibitors.
- Targeted therapies that modulate specific immune pathways have led to better long-term disease management and reductions in surgical interventions.
- Emerging therapies targeting interleukin-23 and oxidative stress pathways will hopefully enhance treatment outcomes for UC in the future.
- People with UC should maintain a healthy lifestyle by avoiding certain foods, managing chronic-kidney-disease, mental-health, fitness-and-exercise, skin-care, and nutrition, and by seeking guidance from healthcare professionals when necessary.
