Promising News for Celiac Sufferers
Two clinical trials are underway for new drugs that could make a dramatic difference in the lives of those with Celiac Disease.
Alba Therapeutics is working on a drug to prevent the reaction that occurs in Celiac patients after consuming gluten. It modifies the structure of the intestinal walls to make them unable to absorb the gluten, which should avoid any immune response.
Using a different angle entirely, drug company Alvine Pharmaceuticals is working on improving how the body breaks down and digests gluten. Their drug basically performs the gluten digestion for you, using enzymes.
A very similar approach has worked wonderfully when treating lactose intolerance. Lactaid Caplets
Hopefully, these new Celiac treatments will have successful trials and work just as well, while maintaining the same convenience as the lactose options (Lactaid can be taken just before a meal, or with the first bite).
Of these two prospects, Alba’s drug looks like it will be first to market, assuming all goes well with their trials. These exciting developments are definitely worth keeping an eye on!
Sources (external links will open in a new window):
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March 18th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
[…] blood and/or tissue test results. For those with celiac disease, Anthony at Joyful Digesting has Promising News for Celiac Sufferers about Lactaid-type drugs in the […]