2023-09-01 12:44:32
A new drug against Crohn’s disease, risankizumab, is now reimbursed by the National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance (Inami), said Friday the University Hospital of Leuven, which is collaborating in studies on this treatment considered promising.
Several tens of thousands of Belgians suffer from chronic enteritis, an inflammation of the lining of the small intestine, similar to Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. People who are affected must undergo long-term treatment to keep the condition under control and counter its symptoms (stomach aches, diarrhea, malaise, etc.).
Nevertheless, research has made giant leaps in the past 20 years in terms of biological therapies developed from antibodies. Progress has been made over the past two years with several international studies looking at three drugs: risankizumab, mirikizumab and upadacitinib. These could be a small revolution, according to gastroenterologist Marc Ferrante from UZ Leuven, who co-led the study on risankizumab. “About 65% of the patients treated during the study with this drug notice a notable improvement in their general condition thanks to the treatment. More than half even indicate that they no longer suffer from symptoms.“
Another advantage observed with risankizumab and mirikizumab: the reduction in side effects generally associated with other medications. Since Friday, risankizumab has been reimbursed by Inami and therefore widely available in Belgium. Reimbursement for mirikizumab for ulcerative colitis and upadacitinib for Crohn’s disease is expected to follow in the coming months.
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