[Comment] RELIEVE UCCD: one pathway, two diseases, and a glimpse into the future of IBD trial design

Abstract

The development of new therapies for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has traditionally followed a familiar path: ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease are studied separately, under separate protocols, with separate development programmes and separate timelines. Yet, clinical observations, as well as advances in molecular phenotyping, increasingly challenge this convention.1,2 Although ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease remain distinct clinical entities, they share key susceptibility genes, inflammatory pathways, therapeutic targets, and treatment goals.