P686 Comparison between therapeutic sequences starting with IV induction-biologic versus SC-induction biologic in bionaïve-patients with ulcerative colitis: results from the APPETISER study

Abstract

Abstract Background Recent data suggest that infliximab and vedolizumab would be more effective than subcutaneous anti -TNF as 1st line-biologic, leading therapeutic sequencing challenging. We compared the effectiveness of a strategy starting with a first-line bologic with IV induction (IFX or VDZ = IV group) compared to a biologic with SC induction (adalimumab or golimumab = SC group) to induce and maintain steroid-free clinical remission during the first 24 months. Methods From a database of IBD referral center, all consecutive UC patients ≥ 18 years-old who started a first line of biologic (IFX, VDZ, ADAor GLM) for active UC with follow-up > 6 months were included. Prior colectomy or severe acute colitis were excluded. The primary endpoint was remission defined according to PRO2 (PRO2-remission) as the absence of bleeding, normalization of transit (Mayo stool frequency subscore = 0) and no steroid. PRO2-remission was defined as a binary criterion each month (the statistical unit being the month and not the patient). The secondary endpoints concerned the analysis by patient and were CFREM (partial Mayo score ≤ 2 without steroid) and endoscopic remission (CFREM + score Endoscopic Mayo ≤ 1) at week 12 . All comparisons were adjusted using propensity scores on potential confounders. Analysis by month was performed using mixed models to account for repeated data. Results Overall, 130 patients were included including 60 patients in the IV group (IFX= 50 and VDZ= 10) and 70 in the SC group (ADA= 48 and GLM= 22). The populations had similar characteristics at baseline apart from concomitant immunosuppressant more frequent in IV group (55.9% vs 21.7%). 2nd line treatment was started in 26.7% of patients in IV group (ADA in 48.8%, VDZ 25.5% and ustekinumab 18.8%) and 87.1% of patients in SC group (IFX in 54.1%, VDZ 31.1%). After adjustment, the rate of CFREM at week 12 was significantly higher in the IV arm (70.8%) than in the SC arm (33.0%) (p < 0.001). The rate of endoscopic remission at W12 was 22.1% and 10.0% in the IV and SC arms, respectively (p =0.18). In this study, 3350 months were analyzed (1180 in the IV arm and 1175 in the SC arm). The percentage of months spent in PRO2-CFREM in the first 24 months (primary endpoint) was greater in the IV arm than in the SC arm (74.2% vs 46.6%; p<0.001). The percentage of months spent in CFREM was higher in the IV arm in the first 6 months (60.4% vs 18.9%), but also between M7 and M12 (73.1% vs 38.6%), M13 and M18 (79.9% vs 57.0%) or M19 and M24 (83.3% vs 64.6%) (p < 0.001 for all comparisons). Conclusion A therapeutic sequence starting with IV induction biologic (IFX or VDZ) was more effective than starting with a SC induction anti-TNF (ADA and GLM ) to induce and maintain remission at short and long-term in UC.