Experimental Pill for Celiac Disease

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Now Playing: Experimental Pill for Celiac Disease

Experimental Pill for Celiac Disease

Reviewed By: Louise Chang,

SOURCES: 2008 Medical Reference from Medstar Television. Alessio Fasano, MD, Mucosa Biologist, University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, Md.

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Narrator:

For Jax Peters Lowell, celiac disease is one for the books. She's written several on the topic, having had an undiagnosed case of the autoimmune disease for years.

Jax Peters Lowell:

Before I was given the gluten-free diet I just got thinner and thinner and sicker and sicker.

Narrator:

Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye and barley. In celiac patients, it wreaks havoc in the digestive tract.

Anthony DiMarino, M.D.:

When it's ingested, it sets up a chemical reaction which releases cytokines or chemicals which injure the intestine.

Narrator:

Symptoms include stomach cramping, pain, bloating, diarrhea and weight loss. Untreated, there are long-term complications like osteoporosis, anemia. Other associated conditions could be diabetes, arthritis and thyroid disease.

Anthony DiMarino, M.D.:

A gluten-free diet is the only accepted treatment right now.

Narrator:

But what if you could take a pill before a meal to block gluten and eat anything you want? That's the idea behind an experimental drug.

Alessio Fasano, M.D.:

The ultimate goal is to go back to a regular life. To eat whatever you want, whenever you want. How feasible this will be with this kind of treatment, only time will tell.

Narrator:

Doctor Fasano says the drug inhibits zonulin, a protein that regulates the absorption of nutrients in the gut. Its job is to open and close spaces between tightly-packed cells that line the small intestine, letting vital nutrients in, keeping destructive proteins like gluten out. Too much zonulin and the space gets jammed open.

Anthony DiMarino, M.D.:

What you have is a gap in the cells and then things can get through that otherwise would not get through.

Narrator:

Including gluten. Doctor Dimarino is heading a study on the new drug called AT1001 he says, so far, the pill seems to keep those spaces between cells closed so gluten can't get in.

Anthony DiMarino, M.D.:

It seems to be blocking the things you want it to block. Patients seem to be able to tolerate the gluten with minimal or no side effects.

Narrator:

Jax took part in the study and is encouraged by the news.

Jax Peters Lowell:

To have maybe the pill in my purse and instructions as to how many hours you have to take it ahead of time and have some pizza. Just grab a slice just like anybody else.