In this FDA press release a drug called Xelijanz (tofacitinib) was approved for rheumatoid arthritis (autoimmune disease like Crohns). This trial showed that patients improved when taking the drug twice a day (at 3 mg) over a 6 month period. Here is a great article that includes tofacitinib along with other possible upcoming treatments for Crohns. Pfizer (the drug company who made this drug) has every incentive to test this drug for other autoimmune diseases. What I have noticed is that one drug can treat many different things (Remicade and Humira treat multiple autoimmune diseases).
One a drug is approved by the FDA it can be used for what is known as “off-label” use. The FDA can’t regulate the practice of medicine so in theory a doctor could prescribe tofacitinib for Crohns however he may have to have the patient consent to some things before hand. Crohns patients who are chronically ill need all the help they can get. We want as many possible tools as possible to fight something that is awful, painful, and makes us worry all the time. Allowing the FDA to get out of the way an let informed patients and doctors experiment could work wonders.