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3 New Treatments for Crohn’s Disease That Are Changing Lives in 2025

Living with Crohn’s disease means navigating an unpredictable cycle of flares, inflammation, and symptoms that can derail your day—or your entire routine. But 2025 is ushering in new hope.

With advancements in biologics, microbiome therapies, and even unexpected repurposed drugs, patients now have more powerful options to manage the condition and achieve remission. These three breakthrough treatments represent some of the most promising new tools available for Crohn’s disease this year—with the final one catching even medical experts by surprise.

Why New Crohn’s Treatments Are So Urgently Needed

Crohn’s disease is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes inflammation anywhere along the digestive tract—often leading to chronic pain, fatigue, weight loss, and unpredictable bowel habits. While traditional medications like corticosteroids and TNF inhibitors help many, a large percentage of patients either stop responding or can't tolerate side effects.

That’s why researchers and pharmaceutical companies are doubling down on developing therapies that are more targeted, more durable, and safer for long-term use. The latest treatments focus on immune system modulation, gut microbiome balance, and even brain-gut signaling, offering a more precise way to manage inflammation without broadly suppressing the immune system.

1. Rinvoq (upadacitinib)

Rinvoq, originally developed for rheumatoid arthritis, is now FDA-approved for adults with moderate to severe Crohn’s disease. This once-daily oral medication is a JAK inhibitor, meaning it targets Janus kinase enzymes involved in inflammation signaling.

Unlike older biologics that require injections or infusions, Rinvoq is taken as a convenient pill, offering a non-invasive treatment option. Clinical trials have shown that many patients achieved clinical remission within 12 weeks, with some seeing mucosal healing—a key indicator of deep, long-term response.

Patients who have not responded well to anti-TNF therapies often find Rinvoq effective, and its safety profile continues to improve with ongoing studies.

2. Mirikizumab (Omvoh)

Omvoh is a newly approved IL-23 inhibitor that works by selectively blocking interleukin-23, a cytokine that plays a major role in chronic inflammation linked to Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

It’s administered via subcutaneous injection and is often better tolerated than older biologics, with fewer gastrointestinal side effects. What makes Omvoh particularly exciting is that it targets inflammation without broadly suppressing the immune system, reducing long-term risk.

Studies show that patients using Omvoh experience fewer flares, better gut healing, and improved quality of life markers like fatigue, appetite, and energy. It’s quickly becoming a top option for newly diagnosed patients and those who’ve cycled through multiple other biologics.

3. Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) Therapy — A Surprising New Frontier

The most unexpected development in 2025’s Crohn’s treatment landscape? Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS)—a therapy once used to treat epilepsy and depression—is now being studied as a non-drug alternative to reduce gut inflammation.

This treatment uses a small implanted device or external stimulator to gently activate the vagus nerve, which sends anti-inflammatory signals to the digestive system. Early studies show reduced disease activity scores and lower CRP (C-reactive protein) levels, suggesting that VNS may help calm the immune system without medication.

While still considered experimental, patients with medication-resistant Crohn’s or those who can’t tolerate traditional therapies may benefit from this emerging approach. It's especially promising because it bypasses the side effects of immune suppression, offering relief through bioelectronic modulation of inflammation.

Where to Learn More or Access These Treatments

If you're considering one of these newer options, talk to your gastroenterologist or IBD specialist. These resources can also help:

Final Thoughts

From powerful new oral medications to targeted immune therapies and even electronic nerve stimulation, the future of Crohn’s treatment is more personalized—and more hopeful—than ever. If current medications aren’t working, or if side effects are getting in the way of living your life, it might be time to explore what’s new in 2025.

These emerging options could mean fewer flares, deeper remission, and a better quality of life—without needing to compromise your body for symptom control.

Sources

Rinvoq – https://www.rinvoq.com

Omvoh – https://www.omvoh.com

ClinicalTrials.gov – https://www.clinicaltrials.gov

Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation – https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org

NIH – https://www.nih.gov