IBD is a chronic condition that involves inflammation of the digestive tract.

The two main types of IBD are Crohn's disease and Ulcerative colitis.
The exact cause of IBD is unknown, but it is believed to involve an abnormal immune response in genetically susceptible individuals.

Current therapy for IBD includes medications such as anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g., 5-aminosalicylates), immunomodulators (e.g., azathioprine, methotrexate), and biologic agents (e.g., anti-TNFα antibodies, anti-IL-12/23 antibodies).
These medications can help control inflammation and reduce symptoms, but they may have side effects and do not work for everyone.

There are several promising new drugs being developed for the treatment of IBD.
One such drug is a TGF-β inhibitor. TGF-β is a protein that plays a role in regulating immune responses and tissue repair.
In IBD, TGF-β is thought to contribute to inflammation and tissue damage.

By blocking TGF-β, it is hoped that it could reduce inflammation and promote healing in the gut.
Among the promising new drugs in development, TGF-β inhibitors, Vactosertib, is showing the potential to improve the management of IBD in the future.