Las Vegas, NV (Jan. 22, 2026) - The Crohn's & Colitis Foundation and the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) are excited to host the annual Crohn's & Colitis Congress®, from Jan. 22-24 in Las Vegas, NV, bringing together researchers and clinicians to share new findings in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

The meeting will feature studies on emerging therapies, real-world treatment outcomes, and innovations in patient care affecting an estimated one in 100 Americans living with IBD, including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

Researchers will present several of the studies selected below at the Crohn's & Colitis Congress. To speak with abstract authors or to review all 171 abstracts, please email [email protected].

Real-world studies link GLP-1 drugs to improved IBD outcomes

Findings from two studies reveal that glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists were associated with better clinical outcomes, including fewer hospitalizations, surgeries, and steroid use. GLP-1 therapies are widely prescribed for obesity and diabetes, but their effects on IBD have remained largely unexplored.

Across independent cohorts, GLP-1 use was associated with lower rates of corticosteroid exposure, hospitalization, intestinal surgery, and mortality, and showed no evidence of increased surgical risk. Results from one abstract showed improved persistence with advanced IBD therapies and a reduced risk of hospitalization. A second Mayo Clinic-led analysis of an 8-million-patient database showed substantial reductions in steroid use, hospitalizations, intestinal resection, and mortality among patients with both ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.

Together, these findings provide converging real-world evidence that GLP-1-based therapies may offer benefits in IBD beyond metabolic disease and support further prospective study.

Engineered biotherapeutic uses inflammation to treat ulcerative colitis

Researchers are presenting a next-generation live biotherapeutic designed to survive - and selectively thrive - in the inflamed colon, addressing a significant limitation of current microbiome therapies for ulcerative colitis.

The therapy is a genetically engineered strain of Escherichia coli Nissle (EcN) 1917 that uses tetrathionate, a byproduct of gut inflammation, as an energy source. Using tetrathionate as an energy source allows the strain to selectively replicate in the inflamed gut environment and tailor activity to disease severity. Researchers also developed an oral microencapsulation system to optimize delivery to the colon.

Key findings:

• Significant reductions in disease severity compared with unmodified probiotics and standard therapy in multiple colitis models.
• A single oral dose eliminated deaths in a seven-day pig model, while untreated animals had a 20% mortality and severe disease.
• Preservation of gut mucosal integrity and tissue features resembling healthy controls.
• Favorable tolerability, dose response, and shifts in key gut compounds linked to anti-inflammatory effects.

These findings support the therapy as a promising next-generation microbiome treatment for ulcerative colitis, particularly for maintaining remission and preventing flares. Researchers plan to conduct a phase 1 clinical trial in 2026.

Oral therapy shows durable real-world remission in ulcerative colitis care

A large multicenter paper found that oral upadacitinib achieved high, durable remission rates in patients with active ulcerative colitis in routine U.S. clinical practice.

Among 416 patients treated, nearly two-thirds achieved clinical remission at one year or beyond, with similar endoscopic and histologic outcomes. Most patients who achieved remission maintained it over time, and dose re-escalation to 45 mg successfully recaptured response in patients who relapsed or had an incomplete initial response.

Key findings:

• Clinical remission in 62.5% of evaluable patients at one year or beyond.
• Endoscopic response in 75.9%, with 58.6% achieving endoscopic remission.
• Researchers observed histologic remission (absence of active inflammation on biopsy) in 66.6% of patients at one year.
• Patients who achieved remission maintained durable clinical remission in 71.4% of cases.
• Researchers reported adverse events in 12.7%, with no new cardiovascular disease or thromboembolic events.

The findings align with AGA's guideline identifying upadacitinib as a high-efficacy option for moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis. Ongoing follow-up will further assess long-term effectiveness and safety.

Additional abstracts you may be interested in covering:

• Standardizing treatment response: A new algorithm compiles and standardizes clinical and laboratory data, providing a framework for evaluating a patient's response to therapy using real-world data.
• AI-driven trial optimization: An AI-driven platform uses machine learning and real-time analytics to optimize site selection, recruitment, and execution of IBD clinical trials.
• IBD, therapy, and fertility: A prospective study showed that exposure to advanced therapies (biologics and small molecules) before conception did not prolong time to pregnancy. In contrast, prior IBD surgery, driven by pelvic IBD surgery, was associated with a significantly increased time to pregnancy.
• JAK inhibitor rescue therapy for acute ulcerative colitis: A meta-analysis found that acute ulcerative colitis with prior anti-tumor necrosis factor exposure was more likely to respond to Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor rescue therapy with lower short-term colectomy risk. At the same time, common endoscopic and laboratory markers failed to predict non-response.
• LGBTQ+ patient experiences with IBD: U.S.-based Focus groups of LGBTQ+ people with IBD revealed delayed diagnoses, dismissive and incongruent care, insurance barriers, and identity-related stress, underscoring the need for trauma-informed, identity-affirming IBD care and research.

Online supplements to Gastroenterology and Inflammatory Bowel Diseases will publish all abstracts presented at the meeting. All abstracts are under embargo until the start of the congress, 8:30 a.m. PST on Thursday, Jan. 22.

###

Learn more about IBD:

Crohn's & Colitis Foundation: What is IBD?

American Gastroenterological Association: IBD information from the AGA GI Patient Center

About the Crohn's & Colitis Congress®
The Crohn's & Colitis Congress®, taking place from January 22-24, in Las Vegas, combines the strengths of the nation's leading IBD patient organization, Crohn's & Colitis Foundation, and the premier GI professional association, the American Gastroenterological Association. Together, we are committed to convening the greatest minds in IBD to transform patient care. The Crohn's & Colitis Congress is the must-attend meeting for all IBD professionals. Learn more at crohnscolitiscongress.org.

About the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation
The Crohn's & Colitis Foundation is the leading nonprofit organization focused on both research and patient support for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), with the mission of curing Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis and improving the quality of life for the millions of Americans living with IBD. The Foundation's work is dramatically accelerating the research process, while also providing extensive educational and support resources for patients and their families, medical professionals, and the public. For more information, visit crohnscolitisfoundation.org, call 888-694-8872, or email [email protected].

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ccfafb
Twitter: @crohnscolitisfn
Instagram: @crohnscolitisfoundation
LinkedIn: Crohn's and Colitis Foundation
TikTok: @crohnscolitisfoundation

About the AGA Institute
The American Gastroenterological Association is the trusted voice of the GI community. Founded in 1897, AGA represents members from around the globe who are involved in all aspects of the science, practice, and advancement of gastroenterology. The AGA Institute administers the practice, research, and educational programs of the organization. www.gastro.org

AGA is on Instagram.
Like AGA on Facebook.
Follow us on X @AmerGastroAssn and Bluesky @amergastroassn.bsky.social
Check out our videos on YouTube.
Join AGA on LinkedIn.