Feinberg
Northwestern Medicine | Northwestern University | Faculty Profiles

News Center

  • Categories
    • Campus News
    • Disease Discoveries
    • Clinical Breakthroughs
    • Education News
    • Scientific Advances
    • Podcast
  • Press Release
  • Media Coverage
  • Editor’s Picks
    • COVID-19
    • Cardiology
    • Cancer
    • Neurology and Neuroscience
    • Aging and Longevity
    • Artificial Intelligence in Medicine
  • News Archives
  • About Us
    • Media Contact
    • Share Your News
    • News Feeds
    • Social Media
    • Contact Us
Menu
  • Categories
    • Campus News
    • Disease Discoveries
    • Clinical Breakthroughs
    • Education News
    • Scientific Advances
    • Podcast
  • Press Release
  • Media Coverage
  • Editor’s Picks
    • COVID-19
    • Cardiology
    • Cancer
    • Neurology and Neuroscience
    • Aging and Longevity
    • Artificial Intelligence in Medicine
  • News Archives
  • About Us
    • Media Contact
    • Share Your News
    • News Feeds
    • Social Media
    • Contact Us
Home » Targeting Immune Cell Trafficking in Colon Disease
Clinical Breakthroughs

Targeting Immune Cell Trafficking in Colon Disease

By Nora DunneJun 2, 2016
Share
Facebook Twitter Email
Stephen-Hanauer-2014
Stephen Hanauer, MD, the Clifford Joseph Barborka Professor of Medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, was a member of the study’s steering committee and enrolled patients.

A new drug safely and effectively treats patients with the inflammatory bowel disease ulcerative colitis, according to a recent study co-authored by Northwestern Medicine investigator Stephen Hanauer, MD. The results of the phase II clinical trial were published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

The drug, called ozanimod, stops self-attacking immune cells from traveling to the colon.

“Ozanimod is one of a new class of medications that inhibit trafficking of lymphocytes, cells that are important for many chronic immune-mediated diseases,” said Hanauer, who is the Clifford Joseph Barborka Professor of Medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

Normally, lymphocytes protect the body against infections and other potentially harmful invaders. But in immune-mediated diseases like ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease and multiple sclerosis, lymphocytes damage tissue instead of protecting it. The drug ozanimod treats disease by inhibiting a receptor involved in immune cell trafficking.

“Ozanimod traps lymphocytes in the lymph nodes so they can’t get back into circulation and into tissues,” Hanauer explained.

A previous study showed that ozanimod reduced disease symptoms in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis.

In this trial, investigators tested the drug in patients with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis. About 400 participants at 57 centers worldwide received one of two oral doses of ozanimod or a placebo for up to 32 weeks. Patients who received ozanimod had a higher rate of clinical remission than the placebo, without significant side effects.

“This new oral agent looks to be a very promising effective and safe medicine for ulcerative colitis,” said Hanauer, who enrolled patients in the trial. “Larger trials are underway to clarify the dose and long-term safety.”

Hanauer said the drug appeals to clinicians because other agents that target lymphocytes have been associated with dangerous side effects, including brain infections and cardiovascular risks, or they require expensive intravenous administration.

This study was funded by Receptos, the pharmaceutical company that manufactures ozanimod. Dr. Hanauer is a paid consultant for Receptos and serves on the steering committee for ozaminod trials in inflammatory bowel disease.

Immunology Patient Care Research
Share. Facebook Twitter Email

Related Posts

Emerging Therapy for Relapsed Lymphoma

Aug 12, 2022

Scientists Identify Key Mechanism Controlling Skin Regeneration

Aug 11, 2022

Scientists Discover Novel Cellular Mechanisms Behind Transcription Elongation

Aug 10, 2022

Comments are closed.

Latest News

Emerging Therapy for Relapsed Lymphoma

Aug 12, 2022

Scientists Identify Key Mechanism Controlling Skin Regeneration

Aug 11, 2022

Scientists Discover Novel Cellular Mechanisms Behind Transcription Elongation

Aug 10, 2022

First-Year Medical Students Celebrate Founders’ Day 2022

Aug 9, 2022

‘Inside Out’ Signaling Promotes Tumor Growth

Aug 5, 2022
  • News Center Home
  • Categories
  • Press Release
  • Media Coverage
  • Editor’s Picks
  • News Archives
  • About Us
Flickr Photos
egn-flickr
Founders' Day 2022_EGN-retouched
220805_SERIO_MANDELL_FEINBERG_White_Coat_1676
220805_SERIO_MANDELL_FEINBERG_White_Coat_1206
220805_SERIO_MANDELL_FEINBERG_White_Coat_1144 (1)
220805_SERIO_MANDELL_FEINBERG_White_Coat_1133
220805_SERIO_MANDELL_FEINBERG_White_Coat_1057
220805_SERIO_MANDELL_FEINBERG_White_Coat_1424
220805_SERIO_MANDELL_FEINBERG_White_Coat_1472
220805_SERIO_MANDELL_FEINBERG_White_Coat_1573
220805_SERIO_MANDELL_FEINBERG_White_Coat_1671
220805_SERIO_MANDELL_FEINBERG_White_Coat_1793

Northwestern University logo

Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

RSS Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Flickr YouTube Instagram
Copyright © 2022 Northwestern University
  • Contact Northwestern University
  • Disclaimer
  • Campus Emergency Information
  • Policy Statements

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.