New research presented at the 2026 Crohn’s & Colitis Congress® highlights a rapidly evolving therapeutic landscape in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), spanning metabolic drugs, engineered microbiome therapies, and real-world treatment data.
GLP-1 receptor agonists—commonly used for obesity and diabetes—were associated with improved IBD outcomes across independent cohorts, including reduced corticosteroid use, fewer hospitalizations, intestinal surgeries, and lower mortality, without increased surgical risk. These findings suggest potential benefits beyond metabolic disease and warrant further prospective evaluation in IBD populations.
Researchers also introduced a next-generation live biotherapeutic for ulcerative colitis: a genetically engineered strain of E. coli Nissle 1917 designed to selectively replicate in inflamed gut environments. Preclinical models demonstrated reductions in disease severity, preservation of mucosal integrity, and favorable tolerability, supporting plans for a phase 1 clinical trial in 2026.
In parallel, real-world data on oral upadacitinib showed durable clinical remission in 62.5% of patients with active ulcerative colitis at one year or longer, with sustained response in the majority of cases and no new safety signals observed.