Takeda Korea is strengthening its position in the domestic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) market with Kynteles receiving expanded reimbursement as a first-line treatment, the company said in a news conference Wednesday.

IBD has two most common symptoms -- ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD). Ulcerative colitis is an IBD that causes long-lasting inflammation and ulcers in a patient's digestive tract. Crohn's disease can cause inflammation anywhere from the mouth to the anus.

Physicians treat IBD by first using anti-inflammatory drugs, steroids, followed by immunomodulators, biological agents, and surgery. In the process, biological agents and surgery are considered the last treatment option for patients. However, there have been unmet needs in treating IBD as early use of steroids and immunomodulators to control the body's immunity can lead to immune suppression and eventually make the patient vulnerable to infections such as tuberculosis and pneumonia.

Professor Kim Joo-sung of Seoul National University explains the limitations of the domestic inflammatory bowel disease treatment environment, during a news conference at Plaza Seoul on Wednesday.

"Patients with ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease are vulnerable to tuberculosis and opportunistic infections," Professor Kim Joo-sung of Seoul National University said. "This risk of infection is a representative factor that interferes with long-term treatment of patients."

To maintain a long-term remission, treatment must be performed to consider the safety profile and the right treatment at the right time, he added.

Kim emphasized that the more treatments there are, the more likely medical professionals would treat patients safely and effectively, noting that the reimbursement expansion of Kynteles could be of great help to medical staff and patients.

Professor Chun Jae-hee at Severance Hospital further explained the results of a recent clinical study of Kynteles and the expected benefits of the drug receiving reimbursement.

Professor Chun Jae-hee of Severance Hospital explains the benefits of Kynteles in the same news conference.

"There have been no direct comparison studies of biological agents until now," Chun said. "In a clinical study that directly compared the effects of adalimumab and Kynteles in patients with moderate-severe UC, Kynteles showed superior clinical remission and intestinal mucosa healing effect compared to adalimumab."

Chun noted that in the past, the fast and robust effect advantage of adalimumab raised concerns that Kynteles' efficacy may not appear as quickly despite its increased safety.

"However, the clinical study proved that the Kynteles efficacy was not slow compared with adalimumab at 14 weeks," he said. "Also, Kynteles overcame the limitations of being unable to use TNF-α formulation for a long period."

Such benefits have led the American Gastroenterological Association to revise their UC treatment guideline and recommend either Kynteles or Infliximab to patients who are new to biologic agents, he added.

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