Evinature’s CurQD® Protocol was shaped by years of inquiry into how the body supports gut balance and immune harmony. The formulation combines two botanicals — curcumin and Qing Dai (Indigo naturalis) — each studied for its interactions within the intestinal environment.
A central pathway associated with this combination is the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) — a receptor distributed along the gut lining that helps coordinate communication among the immune system, the intestinal barrier, and the microbiome. When engaged by certain plant-derived molecules, AhR has been observed to contribute to equilibrium across these systems, aligning with the body’s natural capacity for intestinal resilience.
Guided by this understanding, CurQD® was developed using a gut-directed strategy with an initial focus on induction — helping the body re-establish balance — followed by structured maintenance protocols intended to support ongoing stability over time. These are formulated for each individual by means of our online assessment.
This two-phase framework reflects the real-world needs of individuals managing long-term gut health: addressing short-term discomfort while aiming for lasting balance within the digestive system.
The studies below build on this scientific foundation, examining CurQD® through clinical research and real-world observation to better characterize safety, tolerability, and biological effects:
Initial Multicenter Study on Active Ulcerative Colitis
A multicenter, real-world study across five academic centers — published in Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics in 2023 and republished in the Journal of Crohn’s and Colitis in 2025 — evaluated the use of the CurQD® Protocols in adults with active ulcerative colitis, including participants with prior exposure to — and even failure on — biologics and small molecules.
Results
Across the study period, 46.5% of participants achieved clinical remission and 60.2% achieved a clinical response, with fecal calprotectin normalization observed in nearly 59% of cases. Median SCCAI scores dropped significantly, from 7 to 2 (p < 0.0001), and no severe adverse events were reported.
Takeaways
These results highlight meaningful real-world outcomes with Evinature’s CurQD® Protocol — with remission and response rates comparable to those typically reported with advanced biologic therapies — within a protocol using botanical ingredients. The context is notable given that many participants had already experienced inadequate response or failure with biologics or small molecules.
Significance
By reporting levels of clinical success without the cost or side-effect profiles commonly associated with conventional biologics, this study presents CurQD® as a potential adjunct or alternative considered within ulcerative colitis care — broadening options for patients seeking approaches aligned with integrative strategies.
ECCO Guidelines Inclusion
As of 2025, the European Crohn’s and Colitis Organisation (ECCO) has included CurQD® in its treatment guidelines for ulcerative colitis following publication of several studies (including the one summarized above and others on this page) that examined its safety and outcomes. This recognition reflects the growing body of clinical research positioning CurQD® as a considered option within integrative IBD care and acknowledges its evaluation by the global gastroenterology community.
Harvard Medical Editorial
Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology published an editorial by Dr. Ashwin Ananthakrishnan of Harvard Medical School following the 2023 CurQD® randomized controlled trial. The piece commented on the study’s rigor and relevance, recognizing CurQD® as a credible, evidence-informed therapeutic approach discussed in an academic setting.
Bowel Urgency Improvement
A post-hoc analysis published in Journal of Crohn’s & Colitis examined data from the CurQD® randomized controlled trial in 2023 to evaluate its impact on bowel urgency — one of the more disruptive symptoms of ulcerative colitis. Patients treated with Evinature’s CurQD® Protocols showed a significant reduction in urgency, measured by the SCCAI score, compared to placebo. This urgency-focused analysis described CurQD®’s effects on a key quality-of-life symptom, complementing broader clinical endpoints.
First CurQD® Study Exclusively for Crohn’s Disease
The first multicenter real-world study focused exclusively on Crohn’s disease patients was published in the Journal of Crohn’s & Colitis in January 2025, followed by Frontiers in Gastroenterology in July 2025. The study examined the CurQD® Protocol’s safety and use as an add-on therapy among patients with active disease, including those previously treated with biologics.
Results
After 8–12 weeks of induction therapy, 76% of patients achieved a clinical response, 48% achieved clinical remission, and 75% showed at least a 50% reduction in fecal calprotectin. Biomarker remission was reached in 55% of cases. Among responders, 84% continued Evinature’s CurQD® for at least eight months, maintaining reported benefit with minimal side effects. Reported adverse events, such as mild headache or abdominal discomfort, were infrequent and resolved without complication.
Takeaways
The study described Evinature’s CurQD®’s use in Crohn’s disease, including induction of clinical and biomarker remission and continued use over time. These observations are notable given the high proportion of biologic-experienced patients in the cohort.
Significance
As the first dedicated analysis of Evinature’s CurQD® in Crohn’s disease, the study added evidence that exploration of this approach extends beyond ulcerative colitis — informing integrative options for patients managing inflammation in the small or large intestine.
Ultrasound-Based Study at University of Chicago
A retrospective study conducted at the University of Chicago and published in Journal of Crohn’s & Colitis in January 2025 assessed the CurQD® Protocol, made by Evinature, in adults with ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease using intestinal ultrasound biomarkers — the first study to use this imaging approach for CurQD®.
Results
Over an eight-week period, 65% of participants achieved clinical remission, 50% reached biomarker remission (defined as fecal calprotectin <150 μg/g), and 75% showed sonographic remission. Among ulcerative colitis patients on steroids, 67% achieved steroid-free remission. Median fecal calprotectin levels dropped from 507 to 157 in UC and from 254 to 54.6 in CD.
Takeaways
The study described reductions in clinical symptoms and measurable inflammation on ultrasound and laboratory biomarkers within a relatively short interval. The use of intestinal ultrasound provided visual evidence of changes consistent with mucosal healing and inflammation resolution.
Significance
Led by Dr. David Rubin, this was the first U.S. study to assess CurQD®’s anti-inflammatory effects using advanced imaging. The findings offered objective, imaging-based support for CurQD® as evaluated in both UC and Crohn’s disease.
Prolonged Multicenter International Pediatric Study
A multicenter real-world study published in2024 in Frontiers in Pediatrics evaluated the safety and use of CurQD®, by Evinature, in children and adolescents with mild to moderate ulcerative colitis who had not fully responded to conventional therapies. The study followed patients during both an induction and long-term maintenance phase.
Results
During the induction phase, patients experienced a significant improvement in disease activity, with clinical scores dropping sharply and inflammatory markers showing marked reductions. 91.7% showed improvement in their fecal calprotectin levels, a key marker of gut inflammation, and 58.3% achieved full normalization.
Over the following months, two-thirds (67%) of those who continued treatment maintained their progress or achieved remission.
Takeaways
The findings described CurQD®’s use in a pediatric population, including induction and maintenance outcomes alongside objective biomarker changes, with a safety profile reported as favorable.
Significance
By documenting CurQD®’s evaluation in pediatric UC, this study broadened the evidence base supporting consideration of CurQD® for younger patients — a group where therapeutic options can be limited and tolerability is essential for adherence.
International Multicenter Study
A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology in 2024 investigated the efficacy and safety of CurQD® in patients with active ulcerative colitis. Conducted at leading medical centers in Greece and Israel, the study enrolled eighty-eight participants with diverse disease severities and prior treatment histories.
Results
At eight weeks, 85.7% of patients treated with CurQD® achieved a clinical response compared to 30.7% in the placebo group. Clinical remission was reported in 50% of those on Evinature’s CurQD® versus 8% on placebo, while endoscopic improvement occurred in 75% and 20%, respectively. During the maintenance phase, patients who continued curcumin alone maintained clinical response in 93% of cases and clinical remission in 80%.
Takeaways
This randomized controlled trial reported significant clinical and endoscopic outcomes with Evinature’s CurQD® for active ulcerative colitis. The results support use in both induction and maintenance contexts, with sustained effects over time and a described safety profile.
Significance
The study provided clinical evidence for CurQD® as a considered approach for UC. Investigators also noted that CurQD®’s mechanism of action may involve engagement of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) pathway — associated with immune regulation in the gut — adding context for ongoing development of integrative, science-informed therapies for inflammatory bowel disease.
Pediatric IBD Case Series
A case series conducted at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and published in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases in 2024 examined CurQD® in eight pediatric patients aged nine to seventeen with inflammatory bowel disease, evaluating CurQD® as an adjunct alongside standard treatment.
Results
Within 2.8 to 5.4 weeks of treatment, 75% of participants achieved clinical remission and 87.5% demonstrated a measurable clinical response. All patients tolerated the protocol well, with no significant adverse events reported.
Takeaways
This series described rapid clinical improvement in children using CurQD® as a complement to existing regimens, with favorable tolerability. The observations are especially relevant given the limited options often available in pediatric refractory disease.
Significance
By reporting substantial improvement in remission and response rates over a short period, the series added to the rationale for considering CurQD® within pediatric IBD care where minimizing medication burden is often a priority.
European Study: Vedolizumab + CurQD® Combination
A European prospective study published in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases in 2025 investigated combined use of Vedolizumab and CurQD® in patients with active ulcerative colitis, exploring whether the two therapies could enhance one another’s effects.
Results
After twelve weeks, 91% of patients achieved clinical response, 81% achieved clinical remission, and 36% reached endoscopic remission. All patients were steroid-free by week twelve. The only reported adverse event was a mild, reversible case of alopecia.
Takeaways
The study showed that combining Vedolizumab with CurQD® was associated with improved clinical, endoscopic, and biochemical outcomes compared to typical rates reported with biologic therapy alone. The combination was reported as well tolerated, with no emergent safety concerns.
Significance
This early investigation suggests that CurQD® may act synergistically with biologics in certain contexts, supporting integrated therapeutic models in IBD care and minimizing steroid exposure.
Pediatric Safety Study on CurQD®
A prospective, open-label study published in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases in 2025, conducted at Rabin Medical Center, evaluated CurQD® over a period of six weeks.
Results
After six weeks of treatment, the study proved CurQD® to be safe and effective in inducing remission in pediatric patients with mild–moderate ulcerative colitis.
Takeaways
The trial confirmed CurQD®’s safety and effectiveness for short-term induction in pediatric UC, achieving remission rates comparable to those of standard therapies with a favorable safety profile.
Significance
These findings established CurQD® as a viable therapeutic option for children with mild-to-moderate UC. The study’s positive safety outcomes support its integration into pediatric treatment strategies as a gentle yet effective alternative to conventional approaches.
CurQD® Monotherapy Remission in Severe Crohn’s: Case Report
A case report published in Case Reports in Gastroenterology in 2025 described the first documented case of full clinical and endoscopic remission achieved using CurQD® monotherapy in a patient with severe Crohn’s disease.
Results
The patient, who had discontinued infliximab due to cardiomyopathy, initiated CurQD® independently and experienced rapid, sustained improvement. After more than six months, bowel frequency normalized to one to two movements per day with no blood or pain, and endoscopic remission was confirmed — SES-CD score improved from 16 to 3. Remission was maintained beyond thirty-one months without additional medication.
Takeaways
This report presented an instance in which CurQD® was associated with deep, durable remission as a standalone therapy in Crohn’s disease, even where biologic treatment was discontinued.
Significance
Documented by Dr. Netanel Krugliak and Dr. Mark S. Silverberg at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, this case adds to the literature describing CurQD® as a potential primary therapy under specific clinical circumstances.