Lymphocyte homing antagonists represent promising therapeutic agents for the 
treatment of idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Several critical 
molecules involved in the recruitment of inflammatory cells in the intestine, 
including integrins and chemokine receptors, have been successfully targeted for 
the treatment of IBD. These agents have shown great promise for the induction 
and maintenance of remission for both Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis. This 
article discusses currently approved prototypic agents for the treatment of IBD 
(natalizumab, anti-α4 integrin; vedolizumab, anti-α4β7 integrin), and several 
other agents in the same class currently under development.