- New data presented at Digestive Disease Week 2026 further confirms: endoscopic remission is associated with long-term patient outcomes[1], yet over 60% of IBD patients are unaware of this key treatment goal[2,3]
- On the occasion of World Inflammatory Bowel Disease Day, the “Dual Control” initiative makes “invisible” inflammation and deeper disease control easier to understand
BEIJING, May 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — On May 19, World Inflammatory Bowel Disease Day, Johnson & Johnson launched the “Dual Control” public welfare initiative for inflammatory bowel disease, simultaneously rolling out disease education activities across the Asia-Pacific region. The initiative aims to help patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) achieve deep remission—an important yet underrecognized treatment goal[1].
The latest research from Digestive Disease Week (DDW) 2026 confirms: endoscopic remission (no visible inflammation in the gut), as confirmed by intestinal ultrasound, sigmoidoscopy, or endoscopy, can significantly help patients achieve better long-term disease management[1].
Patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) who achieve endoscopic normalization have a 68% reduced risk of disease progression and are four times less likely to undergo IBD-related surgery[1]; patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) who achieve deep remission have a 41% reduced risk of disease progression, are three times less likely to undergo IBD-related surgery, and show significant improvements in steroid dependence and long-term use[1]. However, currently over 60% of IBD patients have never been aware of this important treatment goal[2,3], highlighting a significant gap in disease awareness among the patient population.
Making Hidden Inflammation Visible: Improving IBD Management with “Dual Control”
As the two main types of inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) affect approximately 10 million people worldwide, with incidence rates in Asia showing an upward trend year by year[4,5]. To date, the estimated number of IBD patients in China has reached 1.5 million[6]. Many IBD patients have hidden intestinal inflammation; even when surface symptoms are under control, intestinal inflammation persists, significantly impacting patients’ academic development[7], career planning[8], and daily social interactions.
By translating complex clinical information into easy-to-understand educational activities, the “Dual Control” project reinforces a key message in IBD disease management: symptom relief does not necessarily mean the disease is under control. In 2026, the project will vividly convey this concept to patients and the public through initiatives such as the “Changing IBD” salon discussions, interactions with healthcare professionals, creative communication activities, and educational videos. The project encourages IBD patients to not only focus on symptom relief but also proactively discuss long-term treatment goals and life aspirations with their doctors.
Practical Tools Empowering Shared Decision-Making: Launch of the “IBD Patient-Physician Communication Handbook”
To facilitate efficient communication between physicians and patients around treatment goals and promote shared decision-making, Johnson & Johnson has officially launched the “IBD Patient-Physician Communication Handbook” in the Asia-Pacific region, available in English, Simplified Chinese, and Korean. The handbook is patient-centered, helping physicians and patients move toward deeper remission and enabling patients to achieve “dual control” over their disease and life goals.
Ms. Peng Lishan, Deputy Secretary-General of the China Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation (CCCF), stated: “Due to limited disease awareness and a lack of shared decision-making communication, many IBD patients fail to understand the true meaning of ‘remission.’ Practical tools like the ‘IBD Patient-Physician Communication Handbook’ can help patients better participate in treatment discussions, manage their condition with confidence, and regain control of their lives.”
Johnson & Johnson shares a common goal with patients, healthcare professionals, and the broader IBD community: to help patients go beyond symptom relief and achieve deeper disease remission and control. For years, Johnson & Johnson has driven scientific innovation in the IBD field and remains committed to collaborating with multiple stakeholders to foster more meaningful conversations, elevate treatment goals, and help every IBD patient balance disease management with an ideal life, pursuing their life’s value.
*Decisions regarding IBD treatment and medication should strictly follow medical advice.
About the “Dual Control” Initiative
The “Dual Control” project was launched in 2025, aiming to collaborate with gastroenterology experts, patient advocacy groups, and other specialists across the Asia-Pacific region to shift the focus of IBD disease management from short-term symptom relief to long-term disease control, bridging gaps in care while empowering IBD patients to achieve “dual control” over their condition and life goals. In 2026, related educational programs are being rolled out in Singapore, China, Japan, South Korea, India, and Thailand.
About Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a group of chronic, non-specific inflammatory conditions of the digestive tract, primarily including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis[9]. Common symptoms include diarrhea, bloody stools, weight loss, mouth ulcers, and abdominal pain[10]. IBD often develops during adolescence[11] and impacts patients’ academic performance[12], career development[13], and interpersonal relationships[14].
Currently, there is no cure for IBD, and the core clinical treatment goal is to achieve and maintain long-term remission[1]. IBD remission encompasses the following levels: symptom control, indicated by the disappearance of active symptoms; endoscopic remission, defined as no active lesions visible on colonoscopy; and histological remission, requiring no active inflammation at the tissue level[7].
References:
- Truyers C, et al. Long-term clinical outcomes, IBD-related surgery, and steroid use in patients with Crohn’s disease in endoscopic remission: a retrospective cohort analysis from the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation database. Presented at DDW 2026.
- Rubin, D. T., Sninsky, C., Siegmund, B., Sans, M., Hart, A., Bressler, B., Bouhnik, Y., Armuzzi, A., & Afzali, A. (2021). International Perspectives on Management of Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Opinion Differences and Similarities Between Patients and Physicians From the IBD GAPPS Survey. Inflammatory bowel diseases, 27(12), 1942–1953. https://doi.org/10.1093/ibd/izab006
- Wood, D. W., Treiman, K., Rivell, A., van Deen, W. K., Heyison, H., Mattar, M. C., Power, S., Strauss, A., Syal, G., Zullow, S., & Ehrlich, O. G. (2025). Communicating Information Regarding IBD Remission to Patients: Evidence From a Survey of Adult Patients in the United States. Inflammatory bowel diseases, 31(6), 1605–1615. https://doi.org/10.1093/ibd/izae201
- Pathiyil MM, Jena A, Venkataramana Raju AK, Aswani Omprakash T, Sharma V, Sebastian S. Representation and reporting of diverse groups in randomised controlled trials of pharmacological agents in inflammatory bowel disease: a systematic review. Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2023;8(12):1143-1151. doi:10.1016/S2468-1253(23)00193-
- Singapore General Hospital. About inflammatory bowel disease. Singapore Health. Published June 28, 2024. Accessed May 5, 2026
- Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation. (n.d.). What is IBD? Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation. Retrieved September 4, 2025, from https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/patientsandcaregivers/what-is-ibd
- SingHealth. (n.d.). Inflammatory bowel disease – Conditions & treatments. SingHealth. Retrieved September 4, 2025, from https://www.singhealth.com.sg/symptoms-treatments/inflammatory-bowel-disease
- Giga, A., Pappa, D., Manthou, P., Chryssi, M., Kollia, T., Varvitsioti, D., Giatromanolakis, E., Anastasiou, N., Zigkiri, E., & Mangoulia, P. (2024). Psychological Impact of Inflammatory Bowel Disease on University Students: A Systematic Review. Cureus, 16(4), e59176. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.59176
- Rouncefield-Swales, A., Carter, B., Bray, L., Blake, L., Allen, S., Probert, C., Crook, K., & Qualter, P. (2020). Sustaining, Forming, and Letting Go of Friendships for Young People with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): A Qualitative Interview-Based Study. International journal of chronic diseases, 2020, 7254972. https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/7254972