Biological therapies in inflammatory bowel disease: Beyond anti-TNF therapies

The pharmacological management of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) over the last two decades has transitioned from reliance on aminosalycilates, corticosteroids and immunomodulators to earlier treatment with antitumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) therapy. Nevertheless, 20-30% of patients discontinue anti-TNF therapy for primary non-response and another 30-40% for losing response within one year of treatment. These undesirable therapeutic outcomes can be attributed to pharmacokinetic (anti-drug antibodies and/or low drug concentrations) or pharmacodynamic issues characterized by a non-TNF driven inflammation. The latter issues necessitate the use of medications with different mechanisms of action. Besides the biologics natalizumab, vedolizumab and ustekinumab that have already been approved for the treatment of IBD new non-anti-TNF therapies are currently under investigation including small molecule drugs against Janus kinase and sphingosine-1-phosphate receptors. This manuscript will review the medications that are in the later stages of development for the treatment of IBD and directed against immune targets other than TNF.