Takeda Pharmaceuticals has bolstered its inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) awareness programme IBD Unmasked by releasing the final two chapters from its graphic novel The Unbeatables.
The initiative saw the pharmaceutical group collaborate with Marvel Custom Solutions back in July 2016 to produce a first-of-its-kind graphic novel featuring a team of superheroes living with or knowing someone with IBD.
The duo recently launched a second chapter earlier this year on world IBD day following its successful debut at London Comic Con in 2016, where the first chapter was premiered.
Chantel Wicks, IBD Unmasked patient panel member, said: “Only a person with IBD can understand what it is truly like. It can be very difficult and its really important that your environment and those who surround you provide support and understanding.
“IBD Unmasked has shed light on the patient experience and given me the opportunity to have a positive impact on the IBD community.”
The project has also seen the Japanese pharma firm provide educational resources and support for people living with the disease.
Elissa Johnsen, senior director global product and pipeline communications at Takeda, said: “When we launched IBD Unmasked, we wanted to provide inspiration for people living with IBD, and to recognise the truly heroic journey they go through in an authentic way.”
“During the past year, IBD Unmasked and our partnerships with patients, physicians and Marvel have enabled us to support those living with IBD in a meaningful and creative way.”
There are now more than five million people worldwide who live with IBD and two of the most common forms of the disease – Ulcerative Colitis (UC) and Crohn’s Disease (CD) – are represented throughout the characters in the graphic novel.
Fabian Nicieza, writer of The Unbeatables and co-creator of Deadpool, said: “It was a unique challenge to work on IBD Unmasked and collaborate directly with patients with IBD to create an inspiring new graphic novel.
“We are proud to have created a group of heroic characters living with IBD and a dramatic adventure story that will raise awareness and empower people living with IBD.”
The full IBD Unmasked graphic novel is available online, where visitors can also create and share their own super hero avatar, take part in quizzes and download tips to help them talk to their doctor, family, or friends about IBD.