A Medication for Celiac Disease

Glutenases are proteases that can break down gluten peptides and thereby potentially prevent stimulation of the immune response in celiac disease. In the current industry-funded, randomized, controlled trial, investigators assessed the efficacy of an oral glutenase in celiac disease.

Patients with stable celiac disease on a gluten-free diet were challenged with gluten and received either an oral glutenase (not yet FDA-approved) or placebo, administered daily at the time of gluten ingestion. The endpoints were the ratio of villous height to crypt depth and the density of intraepithelial lymphocytes, both of which were similar between the two groups and essentially normal before the gluten challenge.

Sixteen patients who received glutenase and …