Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis frequently recur after effective induction therapy.
Accordingly, improved maintenance therapy remains the greatest unmet medical need in
treating these disorders. Although 5-aminosalicylate compounds are widely used to
maintain remission in Crohn's disease, the scientific evidence supporting this practice is
poor. Antimetabolites (azathioprine, 6-mercaptopurine, and methotrexate) and infliximab are
moderately effective in high-risk patients; however, these drugs might cause significant …