Why Intestinal Fibrosis Research Matters

The Critical Problem

While only 10% of Crohn's disease (CD) patients have strictures at diagnosis, 50% develop fibrostenotic strictures during their lifetime. Evidence suggests nearly all CD patients develop some degree of fibrosis, with subclinical extracellular matrix deposition occurring silently over time.

The Clinical Impact

More than 70% of CD patients require surgery within their lifetime due to complications like intestinal obstruction, fistula, and abscess. Despite surgery, endoscopic recurrence occurs in 85-100% of cases by the third postoperative year. Surgery brings major morbidity, higher costs, unemployment risk, and poor quality of life.

The Therapeutic Gap

Current biologics (anti-TNF, anti-integrin, anti-IL) effectively manage short-term inflammation but have limited long-term impact on fibrosis development. Fibrostenotic strictures remain largely unresponsive to anti-inflammatory therapies, leaving surgery as the primary option.

The Paradigm Shift

Intestinal fibrosis was once considered inevitable and irreversible. This view is changing due to enhanced understanding of fibrosis mechanisms and the emergence of promising anti-fibrotic therapeutic targets.

Our Research Mission

We are developing targeted anti-fibrotic therapies to:

• Prevent progression from inflammation to fibrosis

• Halt existing fibrotic processes

• Reduce surgical intervention needs

• Transform the natural history of Crohn's disease

"In the fight against inflammatory bowel disease, 

we have won many battles against inflammation. 

Now, we must win the war against fibrosis."