• At the conference, a new biological treatment option was introduced, as doctors in attendance stressed the importance of early detection and treatment of this chronic disease.

Muscat: Global biopharmaceutical company Takeda hosted a medical conference today in Muscat, Oman, in which leading IBD medical experts from across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) convened to discuss the latest innovations and medical research in IBD treatment. Globally, there are 10 million Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease patients, with that number increasing year on year. Estimates suggest that in the Middle East, the number of patients suffering from IBD will grow 2.3-fold between 2020-2035,[1] emphasizing the critical need for effective treatment options.

IBD is a chronic condition that affects millions of people worldwide. With symptoms ranging from abdominal pain, rectal bleeding, diarrhea, and fatigue, IBD is said to negatively impact not only physical health but patients’ emotional well-being, relationships, social life, work, finances, and leisure time and travel1.

With a focus on bringing hope to Crohn’s disease or Ulcerative colitis patients, medical experts discussed the importance of early detection, diagnosis, and treatment options in a bid to advance patient care. Among those present was Prof. Simon Travis, a distinguished global figure in IBD. The conference also discussed the latest innovative therapy, which helps in addressing inflammation associated with moderate to severe Crohn’s disease or Ulcerative colitis. This new treatment option is designed to bring relief to patients who have not responded well to conventional therapies2.

The new treatment delivers a unique approach to treating IBD, targeting inflammation precisely where it occurs in the gut. It is the only gut selective biologic therapy that is FDA approved for adult IBD patients with moderate to severe Crohn’s or Ulcerative colitis for whom who have failed or are intolerant to conventional therapies. The treatment also provides flexibility with two options for maintenance therapy—IV infusion or subcutaneous injection, making it a versatile and patient-centric treatment option2.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Ahmed Al-Darmaki, Consultant Gastroenterologist specialized in Inflammatory Bowel Disease at The Royal Hospital in the Sultanate of Oman, said, “IBD has proven to be a debilitating disease for many patients, impacting not only the physical but often the emotional and psychological well-being. Patient symptoms are often further exacerbated due to poor diagnosis of their medical condition alongside a lack of effective treatments. Thanks to the latest treatment, we can bring a new lease of life to patients for whom conventional treatments have failed.”

Dr. Ahmed Alwassief, Consultant Gastroenterologist at Sultane Qaboos University Hospital, Oman, Said: While inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) was once thought to have a low incidence in Oman, recent data unfortunately indicates its rise there, mirroring trends seen in other economically developing countries. IBD's impact extends beyond the direct medical costs: it significantly reduces patients' quality of life, work productivity, and income. This can strain the families of IBD patients, requiring both social and financial support, and ultimately creates an economic burden on the state budget. Fortunately, modern IBD treatments have proven cost-effective in preventing complications, improving quality of life, and ultimately reducing the overall financial burden of the disease.

About Takeda

Takeda is focused on creating better health for people and a brighter future for the world. We aim to discover and deliver life-transforming treatments in our core therapeutic and business areas, including gastrointestinal and inflammation, rare diseases, plasma-derived therapies, oncology, neuroscience and vaccines. Together with our partners, we aim to improve the patient experience and advance a new frontier of treatment options through our dynamic and diverse pipeline. As a leading values-based, R&D-driven biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Japan, we are guided by our commitment to patients, our people and the planet. Our employees in approximately 80 countries and regions are driven by our purpose and are grounded in the values that have defined us for more than two centuries. For more information, visit www.takeda.com.

Media Contact
Yehia Issa, Senior Vice President & Partner FleishmanHillard
Email: yehia.issa@fleishman.com

[1] https://insights.omnia-health.com/management/education-can-significantly-reduce-burden-inflammatory-bowel-disease-middle-east