Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are chronic inflammatory bowel diseases 
that have been treated with corticosteroids, 5-aminosalicates and thiopurines, 
but therapeutic options have been broadened with the arrival of anti-tumor 
necrosis factor antibodies. In this article we reviewed the current 
evidence-based approach to inflammatory bowel disease, the modifications that 
have been made to existing therapies and discussed new drugs that have shown 
success in clinical trials. The new drugs discussed here are those that disturb 
lymphocyte homing to the gut (natalizumab, vedolizumab and anti-mucosal 
addressin cellular adhesion molecule); one that blocks interleukin (IL)-12 as 
well as the IL-23/T helper 17 (Th17) axis (ustekinumab) and one that blocks the 
signaling of multiple cytokines (tofacitinib).