Innovative Health Initiative launches a trial aimed at ending Crohn’s Disease

Europe’s first biomarker trial seeks to prevent Crohn’s Disease onset

In a landmark effort, the INTERCEPT project has launched Europe’s first biomarker trial aimed at preventing Crohn’s Disease before symptoms start.

This initiative, funded by the Innovative Health Initiative Joint Undertaking (IHI JU) with over EUR 38 million, aims to transform Crohn’s Disease from an incurable condition to one that can be managed or even prevented.

Crohn’s Disease affects millions globally, leading to debilitating symptoms and increased risks of complications. Despite medical advances, many patients face persistent treatment gaps, with nearly 50% requiring surgery within ten years of diagnosis.

This condition significantly burdens individuals and healthcare systems.

Biomarkers, substances found in body fluids, could signal the earliest disease stages before clinical symptoms manifest. The INTERCEPT project, led by Prof Geert D’Haens from Stichting Amsterdam UMC, aims to validate biomarkers for Crohn’s Disease. “We have strong and reliable biomarkers and very safe treatments to offer,” D’Haens said.

The project plans to recruit 10,000 healthy first-degree relatives of Crohn’s Disease patients from seven European countries to validate biomarkers and risk scores.

From this group, 80 individuals at high risk will participate in a trial to prevent disease development through established medical treatment.

Dr Awny Farajallah of Takeda Pharmaceutical highlighted, “Biomarkers are key to future research and have the potential to revolutionise the treatment landscape for IBD.”

INTERCEPT’s collaboration involves 21 partners from Europe, North America, and South Korea. Prof Jean-Frédéric Colombel from Mount Sinai, New York, remarked, “Our combined success could reinforce the concept that immune-mediated diseases can be prevented.”

Prof D’Haens concluded, “I am honoured to lead this unique collaboration of bright scientists. It feels like this may lead to significant scientific progress in the field since Crohn’s Disease was first described in 1932.”