Arthritis drug fights Crohn’s disease

The inflammation-fighting drug infliximab, which has shown promise against acute attacks of Crohn’s disease, can hold off the intestinal ailment for a full year in many patients, an international group of researchers now report in the May 4 Lancet.

Not all people with Crohn’s disease–marked by pain, diarrhea, and weight loss–respond to infliximab, which is mainly used against rheumatoid arthritis.