Five late-stage drug candidates are drawing attention as researchers search for more effective, targeted, and convenient options for people living with ulcerative colitis.
New York, 8 September 2026 – The treatment landscape for ulcerative colitis is entering a new phase, with several experimental medicines moving through advanced clinical development. These therapies are exploring different ways to control inflammation, improve remission and address the needs of people whose disease does not respond well to existing treatments.
Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that affects the lining of the large intestine. While current medicines can help control symptoms, some patients experience repeated flare-ups, lose their response to treatment, or need to switch therapies. This continuing treatment burden is driving interest in medicines with new mechanisms of action.
According to DelveInsight, the ulcerative colitis market across the United States, the four major European markets, the United Kingdom, and Japan was valued at approximately $9.4 billion in 2025. The market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 7.6% through 2036, supported by advances in targeted therapies, biologics, and oral medicines. Five candidates are particularly worth watching.
Obefazimod from Abivax is an oral small molecule designed to increase the production of miR-124, which has anti-inflammatory effects. The therapy has progressed through Phase III development, with clinical research showing potential benefits for people with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis. Its oral format could also make it an attractive option if further development and regulatory review are successful.
Tulisokibart from Merck is another late-stage candidate being developed for inflammatory bowel disease. It targets a pathway involved in the immune response and is being studied for patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Its development reflects the industry’s broader move toward medicines that target specific biological processes rather than relying only on broad immune suppression.
Olamkicept from Ferring Pharmaceuticals is also part of the emerging treatment pipeline. The therapy is designed to interfere with the IL-6 signaling pathway, which is involved in inflammation. Its development adds another potential approach for controlling the inflammatory activity associated with ulcerative colitis.
Afimkibart from Roche is being investigated as another targeted treatment for inflammatory bowel disease. The candidate represents continued interest in developing therapies that can provide more precise control of the immune mechanisms linked to intestinal inflammation.
Duvakitug, being developed by Teva Pharmaceuticals and Sanofi, is targeting TL1A, a protein associated with inflammation and fibrosis in inflammatory bowel disease. The medicine is currently being evaluated in Phase III trials for ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Importantly, its safety and effectiveness have not yet been established by regulatory authorities, meaning further clinical research will be needed before any potential approval.
These candidates are part of a much larger pipeline. Other experimental therapies, including icotrokinra, zotemtegrast, zasocitinib and XmAb942, are also being studied through different stages of clinical development. Together, they show how researchers are exploring multiple biological pathways to improve treatment choices for patients.
The wider ulcerative colitis market is already supported by established biologics, oral targeted medicines and conventional treatments. Anti-TNF therapies remain important, while newer biologics and oral treatments are expanding the choices available to patients. Biosimilars are also increasing competition among established biologic medicines and may help improve access by offering lower-cost alternatives.
The next stage of innovation is likely to focus not only on controlling symptoms but also on achieving lasting remission, improving safety and making treatment easier to use. Oral medicines, targeted biologics and therapies aimed at previously underused pathways could give physicians more options when existing treatments are insufficient.
For patients and healthcare providers, however, promising clinical trial results are only one part of the journey. Each investigational medicine must continue to demonstrate its safety and effectiveness before it can become an approved treatment.
As research advances, the growing pipeline offers a clearer picture of where ulcerative colitis treatment could be heading: more targeted therapies, greater treatment choice, and increasingly personalized approaches to managing a complex chronic disease.
