Treatment for IBD has traditionally centered on the use of antibiotics, aminosalicylates, corticosteroids and immunomodulators. In the past decade, however, the treatment options available for IBD have expanded to include biologic agents. These agents have had a dramatic impact on the way physicians treat their patients and therapeutic strategies for IBD are likely to be markedly altered by their introduction to the therapeutic armamentarium. The biologic agents currently available for the treatment of IBD target the pro-inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor and the mechanisms involved in leukocyte migration. In this Focus issue, leaders in the field provide an update on the current status of biologic therapies for IBD and set the stage for developments in the near and distant future. Encompassing discussion of the potential for disease modification, therapeutic rationale and requisite evidence, safety, pharmacoeconomics, and future targets, this Focus provides a valuable and cutting-edge resource for clinicians and researchers.

An NPG library of relevant Reviews, Editorials, News and Views. Reviews, Original research and Case Studies is also provided.