Anti-TNF-alpha therapy is an established treatment modality for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Yet up to 30% of patients do not respond to anti-TNF-alpha therapy (primary non-responders), and almost 50% of responders lose clinical efficacy over time (secondary non-responders). Furthermore, numerous safety concerns are associated with the long-term use of anti-TNF-alpha agents. Anti-TNF-alpha therapy safety concerns and the increased incidence of non-responders have driven the need to develop innovative strategies to treat IBD.