With a growing number of people who suffer from gut issues and gluten intolerance, there is a a promising new therapy from Cedars-Sinai researchers is offering hope to people living with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis—two painful, chronic gut conditions that affect millions worldwide. The treatment, when commercially available, may be able to stop Crohn’s and IBD, putting it into remission.
And while the treatment comes from a high-tech lab, its success taps into something we’ve long known: the gut holds deep secrets to health and healing.
In a Phase II clinical study, nearly half the patients treated with a new experimental drug called tulisokibart went into clinical remission—a major step forward for a disease that currently has no cure and only mixed results from existing medications. Published in well-known journal, The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology, the study shows that tulisokibart could help usher in a new era of precision gut medicine, with quicker, longer-lasting relief.
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Tulisokibart is a monoclonal antibody therapy—a lab-engineered protein designed to block a specific target in the body. In this case, the target is TL1A, a molecule involved in driving inflammation and fibrosis (scar tissue buildup) in the digestive tract.
What makes this approach so innovative is that researchers at Cedars-Sinai, led by Dr. Dermot McGovern and Dr. Stephan Targan, spent years mapping the genetic and immune pathways that trigger inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Instead of treating the symptoms, they developed a treatment that tackles the root cause—chronic immune overreaction and gut scarring.
Better yet, they paired the drug with a diagnostic test that can help doctors predict who is most likely to benefit—bringing true personalized medicine into gut health care.
As researchers make progress with pharmaceutical solutions like tulisokibart, public interest in natural gut health is also exploding. Fermented foods, probiotics, and anti-inflammatory diets are no longer fringe trends—they’re part of a global movement to heal from the inside out.
One promising example: recent studies from China show that a SAM-producing probiotic (Lactobacillus helveticus CCFM1320), found in fermented foods like yogurt, Swiss cheese, and kefir, may improve sleep by restoring balance to the gut-brain connection. It’s all part of a growing body of research showing how gut bacteria influence immunity, mental health, and even hormone cycles.
While tulisokibart isn’t a probiotic, it speaks the same language: treat the gut with respect and precision, and the whole body can benefit.
Tulisokibart is still in the clinical trial stage. A larger Phase III trial is now underway to confirm its safety and long-term effectiveness. If results continue to be positive, an investments are made, it could be approved and available within a few years, depending on regulatory pathways at the FDA in the US.
For now, those living with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis can stay hopeful. This therapy doesn’t just ease symptoms—it may reverse inflammation and prevent scarring, a long-sought goal in IBD care.
Author: Karin Kloosterman
Karin Kloosterman is an award-winning journalist, innovation strategist, and founder of Green Prophet, one of the Middle East’s pioneering sustainability platforms. She has ranked in the Top 10 of Verizon innovation competitions, participated in NASA-linked challenges, and spoken worldwide on climate, food security, and future resilience. With an IoT technology patent, features in Canada’s National Post, and leadership inside teams building next-generation agricultural and planetary systems — including Mars-farming concepts — Karin operates at the intersection of storytelling, science, and systems change. She doesn’t report on the future – she helps design it. Reach out directly to [email protected]
