New Options for Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis Patients

Options Health Research is testing a new drug to treat Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis.

Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis, collectively known as Inflammatory Bowel Disease, or IBD, affects approximately one million people in the United States. These diseases are due to inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, which results in abdominal pain, diarrhea and bleeding. Many patients have mild forms of the disease, which can be treated effectively by anti-inflammatory drugs, while many others experience unwanted side effects from standard treatment or the therapies are not effective.

Options Health Research is testing a new drug to treat Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis. The new study drug works by preventing the white blood cells that induce inflammation from migrating to the intestinal wall. The goal of therapy is to induce and maintain control of the disease in patients with moderate to severe forms of IBD who have not responded well to current therapies.  

A new drug goes through the FDA approval process in three different phases of testing. The clinical drug trials currently underway are in the second phase of testing. Clinical drug trials are conducted at a medical research facility, with both clinical research coordinators and physicians working together to closely monitor the patients’ health, and maintain strict adherence to the plan of study.  

All clinical drug trials have criteria that determine whether a patient is eligible to participate in the trial. These criteria can include age, gender, previous medical conditions, stage of disease, and treatments that have already been used. All medical exams, procedures and medication used in a clinical drug trial are provided at no cost to the patient. Before any patient is enrolled in a clinical drug trial they are informed of the process in which the drug trial is conducted, as well as any potential known risks associated with the investigational drug.

Options Health Research, located in Tulsa, is conducting this trial. Dr. Harvey A. Tatum, a board certified gastroenterologist, is the principle investigator at Options Health Research and has been conducting medical research for over 14 years. Over 50 clinical drug trials have been conducted at Options Health Research. The research staff provides the patients’ primary care physician with all lab and test results conducted as a part of the clinical drug trial.

If you or someone you know has Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis, call Options Health Research at (918) 513-3478 to find out more information about this and other clinical drug trials currently underway.

For more information, contact

Options Health ­Research

(918) 513-3478

www.ohresearch.com