Novel pharmacological developments in the management of paediatric inflammatory bowel disease: Time for guideline update – A narrative review

Abstract

AimThe incidence of paediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) continues to increase in both adults and children across the globe, with more than one third of the patients not responding to anti‐tumour necrosis factor biologics and immune modulators. This narrative review provides an overview of novel pharmacological developments in the management of paediatric IBD, including new biological therapies.MethodsA PubMed Medline search was performed to include randomised controlled trials, retrospective and prospective observational studies, and relevant case reports of children with IBD published between 2018 and January 2023. Guidelines and protocols from relevant paediatric and adult gastroenterology societies, such as the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition and the European Crohn's and Colitis Organisation, were also included. Non‐pharmacological treatments including therapeutic diets and faecal microbiota transplantation were outside the scope of this work.ResultsEarly real‐world evidence suggests that newer biologics and small molecules, such as anti‐integrins, interleukin‐12 and/or interleukin‐23 inhibitors, Janus kinase and signal transducer and activator of transcription proteins inhibitors, are safe and effective in adult patients with IBD, with promising growing evidence for paediatric IBD.ConclusionWhile many developments have been achieved with novel pharmacological treatments to manage IBD, ongoing research is required to confirm their effectiveness and safety in the paediatric age. Extending the licence of novel treatments to children will be crucial to tackle the increasing loss of response to conventional treatments. International guidelines will require timely updating to incorporate novel treatments within the existing protocols.