**3.3 Antisense therapy for inflammation and autoimmune diseases**

The antisense drugs have been and are currently being evaluated for multiple inflammatory diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease. The oral drug, mongersen targeting the SMAD7 mRNA, showed the promising effects on patients with ulcerative colitis. Also, alicaforsen drug, targeting intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (CD54), has been tested for its effects by systemic delivery in patients with Crohn's disease [20] as well as in the rectal enema patients with ulcerative colitis (or active unremitting pouchitis) [21–23]. This drug is currently being developed for the treatment of chronic refractory pouchitis [21, 24].
