The Innovative Health Initiative (IHI) and Takeda Pharmaceutical have announced the launch of the INTERCEPT study, a €38 million project dedicated to improving early intervention strategies for Crohn's disease. This first-of-its-kind study will leverage biomarkers to intercept the disease's progression in individuals at high risk, with the ultimate goal of preventing symptom development.
Biomarker-Driven Prevention
Crohn's disease, a primary form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), affects approximately three million individuals in Europe. Patients often experience persistent diarrhea and abdominal pain, with nearly 50% requiring surgery within ten years of diagnosis. Biomarkers, measurable substances in body fluids, are already utilized in conditions like type 1 diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis to detect early disease stages.
INTERCEPT aims to validate a panel of biomarkers and develop a blood risk score to identify individuals at high risk of developing Crohn's disease within five years of initial evaluation. The project plans to recruit 10,000 healthy first-degree relatives of Crohn's disease patients from seven European countries. Of these, the 80 individuals at the highest risk will participate in a trial focused on preventing the onset of full-blown disease through established medical treatments.
Collaborative Effort
The initiative involves 21 collaborative partners from Europe, North America, and South Korea. According to Takeda’s chief medical officer, Awny Farajallah, biomarkers are key to future research and have the potential to revolutionize the treatment landscape for IBD. "In intercepting Crohn’s disease, we face complex scientific challenges that no one organization can address alone. Our collaboration will unite public and private sector expertise and resources to more efficiently advance Crohn’s research and potentially benefit IBD patients."
Professor Geert D’Haens from Stichting Amsterdam UMC, who leads the INTERCEPT project, stated, "We have strong and reliable biomarkers and very safe treatments to offer." Professor Jean-Frédéric Colombel from Mount Sinai, New York, added, "Our combined success could reinforce the concept that immune-mediated diseases can be prevented."
Transforming Crohn's Disease Management
The INTERCEPT project represents a significant step towards transforming Crohn's disease from an incurable condition to one that can be effectively managed or even prevented. By validating biomarkers and implementing early intervention strategies, the initiative seeks to alleviate the burden on patients and healthcare systems alike.
