Do you suffer from Ulcerative Colitis (UC)?

Ulcerative Colitis (UC) is an inflammatory bowel disease that causes ulcers (sores) and painful inflammation in the digestive tract. UC is a condition that develops over time and affects the innermost lining of the large intestine and rectum. The ulcers may produce blood or pus and mucous and can cause abdominal pain and the need to frequently empty your colon.

Ulcerative Colitis can cause debilitating symptoms and sometimes life-threatening complications. Many people experience symptoms– occasionally with long periods of remission. Signs and symptoms may include:¹

• Diarrhea (often with blood or pus)
• Rectal pain, sometimes with blood
• Fatigue or fever
• Weight loss
• Urgency to use the washroom
• Constipation (despite urgency)
• Abdominal pain or cramping

• Age. Ulcerative Colitis usually begins before the age of 30, but it can occur at any age and may not develop until after the age of 60.
• Race or ethnicity. Although Caucasians have the highest change of the disease, it can occur in any race.
• Family history. You’re at higher risk if you have a close relative with the disease.

The cause of Ulcerative Colitis remains unknown. It is the result of several factors that are not yet well understood. Abnormal immune response, genetics, and environmental factors can all contribute to UC. Although diet and stress were previously suspected, research has since ruled this out stating that diet and stress may aggravate the condition but are not a cause.

Ulcerative Colitis may be triggered by an interaction between a virus or bacterial infection in the colon and the body’s immune response. In UC patients, the inflammation persists long after the immune system should have finished its job. The body continues to send white blood cells into the lining of the intestines, where the inflammation and ulcers form.²

Although there is no cure for Ulcerative Colitis, there are treatments that may help improve symptoms of the condition. Most treatments usually involve drug therapies or surgery. The course of action typically depends on the severity of the condition and is evaluated and administered by a specialty physician.³

Current medical treatments for Ulcerative Colitis include anti-inflammatory therapies, immune suppressants, and a new category of medications called biologic therapies. Biologic therapies target specific immune system markers to combat various medical conditions.⁴ The investigational medication in this study is a biologic therapy that targets an immune protein associated with tissue inflammation.

The Ulcerative Colitis Studies are looking to see how well an investigational medication works in treating the symptoms of UC.