At IBDENC, we believe in engage, educate and empower. Our IBD Journal Scan is one way we deliver on that promise: by curating key articles from high-impact journals every month, we offer a clear, expert-driven snapshot of what’s new and noteworthy in IBD research. Whether you're a clinician, researcher, or educator, this resource helps you stay on the frontline of cutting-edge science, with older scans archived so you can revisit past insights as well.

IBD Journal Scan

Key articles from high impact journals in last month

Editorial Recommendations

JAN-2026

This month’s selection highlights 5 key studies advancing the understanding and management of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and its complications. Evidence supports early use of vedolizumab in Crohn’s disease, demonstrating higher remission rates and better safety when introduced early in the disease course. A novel oral bispecific antibody (SOR102) targeting TNF and IL-23 shows a favourable safety profile with encouraging early efficacy in ulcerative colitis. Large Asian data provide new insights into PSC-IBD, confirming lower prevalence than in Western populations and improving outcomes with earlier detection. Long-term registry data indicate that the risk of colorectal cancer after low-grade dysplasia in IBD has declined over time, although inflammation-related risk factors remain important. Finally, a meta-analysis suggests no added benefit of continuing 5-ASA after escalation to advanced therapies in ulcerative colitis. Together, these five journals offer clinically relevant updates for contemporary IBD practice.

Vedolizumab in Crohn's, earlier the better

Vedolizumab is effective for Crohn’s disease, but its benefits in early disease are not well defined. This phase 4, open-label cohort study evaluated vedolizumab over 52 weeks in adults with moderate-to-severe Crohn’s disease, comparing early disease (2 years, previously treated). Among 260 patients enrolled across 22 European centers, combined clinical and endoscopic remis sion at both weeks 26 and 52 was achieved in 31.4% of patients with early Crohn’s disease compared with 8.6% in late disease. Early disease patients also experienced significantly fewer serious adverse events. These findings demonstrate that vedolizum ab is both more effective and safer when used early in the disease course, supporting its consideration as a favorable first-line biologic option for patients with recently diag nosed, biologic-naive Crohn’s disease.

New Horizons - Single pill combination therapy

SOR102 is an oral bispecific antibody targeting TNF and IL-23p19 developed for ulcer ative colitis. This phase 1, double blind, placebo-controlled trial evaluated its safety, pharmacokinetics, and preliminary efficacy in healthy participants and patients with active ulcerative colitis. Across single and multiple ascending doses, SOR102 was generally well tolerated, with mostly mild to moderate adverse events and no clinically significant safety signals. In patients with ulcerative colitis treated for 42 days, clinical responses were more frequent with SOR102 than placebo, particularly with twice-daily dosing. Symptomatic remission was achieved in over half of patients receiving twice-daily SOR102, while no placebo-treated patients reached remission. Although one severe disease exacerbation occurred, it was not considered treatment related. Overall, the favourable safety profile and early signs of clinical bene fit support further clinical development of SOR102 as a potential oral therapy for ulcerative colitis.

PSC and IBD - The asian context

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a serious hepatobiliary condition frequently associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), but data from Asia are limited. This international multicenter retrospective study evaluated PSC prevalence and outcomes among 51,314 Asian patients with IBD across 25 hospitals in six countries. PSC was identified in 0.92% of patients, occurring more commonly in ulcerative colitis than Crohn’s disease. Among patients with PSC-IBD, substantial long-term risks were observed, including colorectal neoplasia, cholangiocarcinoma, liver transplantation, and mortality. Over successive diagnostic eras, patients were increasingly diagnosed earlier, with fewer symptoms, better liver function, and longer time to liver transplantation. Greater use of magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography appears to have facilitated earlier detection and improved outcomes. Overall, PSC is less prevalent in Asian IBD populations than in Western cohorts, with evidence of improving prognosis over time.

Risk factors for advanced neoplasia in IBD

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and low-grade dysplasia (LGD) are at increased risk of progression to high-grade dysplasia (HGD) or colorectal cancer (CRC). This nationwide Danish cohort study followed 7,455 individuals with IBD-related LGD over up to 15 years. The cumulative incidence of HGD or CRC was 6.3%, with a signifi cant decline in risk in more recent diagnostic periods, suggesting improved surveillance and management. Increasing age, longer IBD duration, a family history of CRC, recur rent elevated fecal calprotectin, and recent high-dose prednisone use were associated with higher risk. Anti–TNF-α therapy showed a non-significant trend toward risk reduction. Overall, the findings indicate that the long-term risk of advanced neoplasia after LGD in IBD has decreased over time, while persistent inflammation and traditional risk factors continue to play an important role in disease progression.

5-ASA with Advanced therapy, What's new?

The role of continuing 5-aminosalicylates (5-ASA) after escalation to advanced thera pies in ulcerative colitis remains unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis included over 11,000 patients from observational cohorts and post-hoc clinical trial analyses, comparing outcomes between 5-ASA continuation and discontinuation. Con tinuation of 5-ASA was not associated with improved clinical, endoscopic, or biochemical outcomes and was linked to a lower likelihood of achieving clinical remission. No significant differences were observed in corticosteroid-free remission, clinical response, hospitalization, surgery, adverse events, or loss of response. Overall, the findings suggest that continuing 5-ASA alongside advanced therapies provides no clear therapeutic benefit or safety advantage, supporting consideration of 5-ASA dis continuation in patients with ulcerative colitis who have escalated to biologic or advanced treatments.