Are new treatments for celiac disease on the horizon?

More than 3 million Americans suffer from celiac disease, an illness with no current treatment. Is help on the way?

For celiac disease sufferers, avoiding gluten is the only way to avoid symptoms. But that’s not always easy to do. Researchers are working on new treatments, including one that targets interleukin-15, a chemical that can cause some of the damage in celiac sufferers. Will the drugs be available to patients soon? 

Celiac expert Maureen Leonard joins Host Ira Flatow for a look at the latest in treating celiac disease. 

Guest:

Dr. Maureen Leonard is the clinical director of the Center For Celiac Research And Treatment at Mass General Hospital for Children. She’s also an associate professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School.

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