Induction Of Clinical Remission Research Articles

P998 Phase 2 basket design study evaluating the efficacy and safety of an anti-TL1A antibody (TEV-48574) in moderate to severe ulcerative colitis or Crohn's Disease (RELIEVE UCCD)

Abstract Background TEV-48574 is a human antibody that targets tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-like ligand 1A, also known as TNF superfamily member 15 (TNFSF15). TEV-48574 is being evaluated in the first basket design trial in IBD. The basket design is uniquely suited for the efficient assessment of TEV-48574 as evidence suggests that TL1A signaling plays a key role in both ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD). TL1A signaling is not a primary driver but an amplifier of inflammation; thus, targeting TL1A should mitigate excessive immune responses while leaving baseline immunity intact. Originating in oncology trials, the basket trial design has emerged as a new efficient approach for testing treatment efficacy in different disease indications with potentially common molecular mechanisms. The basket design approach allows the evaluation of multiple indications in a single study design that provides adequate support for initiation of confirmatory studies. Additionally, the basket design allows for shared sites and institutional review boards, data collection and analyses under consistent conditions. Herein, we describe the phase 2b basket trial evaluating TEV-48574 in UC and CD (clinicaltrials.gov NCT05499130), currently ongoing along with a long-term extension study (LTE)(NCT05668013). Methods In this double-blind placebo-controlled global study, TEV-48574 or placebo is administered subcutaneously to adults (n = 240) diagnosed with moderate-to-severe IBD (UC (n = 120) or CD (n = 120)). Patients who meet pre-specified inclusion/exclusion criteria are randomized to either one of two TEV-48574 dose regimens or placebo in a 1:1:1 ratio (stratified by diagnosis (UC or CD) and previous exposure to advanced IBD therapy(biologics and small molecules)) for 14 weeks. Patients who complete the 14-week induction period have the option to enter the LTE, consisting of a 44-week maintenance period for responders and a re-induction period for non-responders. Primary efficacy endpoints are induction of clinical remission (a modified Mayo Score of ≤2 points for UC), and endoscopic response (a reduction in Simple Endoscopic Score for Crohn's Disease (SES-CD) of ≥ 50% from baseline) for CD, at week 14. A Bayesian approach will be used to compute posterior probabilities for the response endpoints within each indication. Additional endpoints include safety assessments, measures of clinical response, biomarkers, pharmacokinetics, and immunogenicity. Results Conclusion TEV-48574 is a potential novel treatment option for patients with UC and CD that may have dual antifibrotic and anti-inflammatory effects. The phase 2 basket study design offers an efficient approach to advance TEV-45874to confirmatory phase 3 studies.

P706 Tofacitinib in Moderate to Severe Ulcerative Colitis patients naïve to biological therapy: A prospective real world analysis of efficacy and safety

Abstract Background Tofacitinib is an oral non-selective Janus Kinase inhibitor approved for Ulcerative colitis (UC) after the failure of biological therapy. Tofacitinib as first line therapy in biologic naive patients has not been evaluated. Methods We conducted a prospective study to assess the safety and efficacy of Tofacitinib as first line therapy in biologic naive moderate to severe UC. Tofacitinib was given at a dose of 10mg BD for 8 weeks followed by de-escalation to 5mg BD maintenance in responders. Dose escalation was done for relapses. Demographics, disease characteristics, concomitant medication, adverse events, severity and time to relapse were recorded. Clinical response and remission (defined as partial Mayo score: PMS decrease ≥2 and PMS ≤1 respectively) were measured at 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 24 weeks and 52 weeks. Endoscopic response (UCEIS score decrease ≥2) and remission (UCEIS 0-1) were assessed at 1 year. Time to event analysis was done to evaluate the cumulative rate of clinical response. Results 176 patients (136 biologic naive, 58% male; median age 40y [IQR:31-48y]) were included. Median baseline PMS and UCEIS score were 5 (IQR: 5-7 and 4-6 respectively) (Table 1). Of the biologic naïve cohort, clinical response was achieved in 68.4% and 79.4% at 4 and 8 weeks respectively. Clinical remission was achieved in 45.6%(4-weeks) and 55% (8-weeks). Maintenance of remission was seen in 44.1% and 32.4% in 24 and 52 weeks respectively (Fig1A). There was a significant reduction in PMS from baseline to end of 8-weeks (p<0.001) (Fig 1B). Corticosteroid-free clinical remission was achieved in 64.8% at 24-weeks. 106 patients (77.9%) maintained response till last follow-up. 11 relapsed after dose de-escalation (median time of 5m [range 3-22m]. 7/11 responded to dose escalation to 10mg. Endoscopic response was noted in 62.5% and remission in 33.9% with significant reduction in UCEIS from baseline to 52-weeks(p<0.001) (Fig 1B). Severe and minor adverse events were noted in 4 and 3 patients respectively (Table 1). Overall 1/3 of patients discontinued therapy at 24-weeks (14%) and 52 weeks (10%). No significant difference in proportion of clinical or endoscopic remission was observed between the biologic naïve and those with history of prior biologic usage (n=31, median time from withdrawal of biologics to Tofacitnib initiation=9 months). Conclusion Tofacitinib was effective in induction of clinical remission in more than half of biologic naive, moderate to severe UC . Three-fourth of these patients continued to be in remission at one year with few serious adverse events. Tofacitinib can be considered as upfront oral therapy after failure of conventional management.

Fecal Filobasidium Is Associated with Clinical Remission and Endoscopic Response following Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in Mild-to-Moderate Ulcerative Colitis.

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has the potential to restore (bacterial and fungal) microbial imbalance in ulcerative colitis (UC) patients and contribute to disease remission. Here, we aimed to identify fecal fungal species associated with the induction of clinical remission and endoscopic response to FMT for patients with mild-to-moderate ulcerative colitis. We analyzed the internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1)-based mycobiota composition in fecal samples from patients (n = 31) and donors (n = 7) that participated previously in a double-blinded randomized control trial evaluating the efficacy of two infusions of donor FMT compared with autologous FMT. The abundance of the yeast genus Filobasidium in fecal material used for transplantation was shown to correlate with clinical remission following FMT, irrespective of its presence in the material of donor or autologous fecal microbiota transfer. The amplified sequence variants within the genus Filobasidium most closely resembled Filobasidium magnum. Monocyte-derived macrophages and HT29 epithelial cells were stimulated with fungal species. Especially Filobasidium floriforme elicited an IL10 response in monocyte-derived macrophages, along with secretion of other cytokines following stimulation with other Filobasidium species. No effect of Filobasidium spp. was seen on epithelial wound healing in scratch assays. In conclusion, the enriched presence of Filobasidium spp. in donor feces is associated with the positive response to FMT for patients with UC and hence it may serve as a predictive fungal biomarker for successful FMT.

Efficacy and safety of biologics and small molecule drugs for patients with moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis: a systematic review and network meta-analysis

There is a growing armamentarium for the treatment of moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis. We aimed to compare the relative efficacy and safety of biologics and small molecule drugs for the treatment of patients with moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis. In this systematic review and network meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials without language restrictions for articles published between Jan 1, 1990, and July 1, 2021. Major congresses' databases from Jan 1, 2018, to July 3, 2021, were reviewed manually. Phase 3, placebo-controlled or head-to-head randomised controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the efficacy and safety of biologics or small molecule drugs as induction or maintenance therapies for patients with moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis were included. Phase 2 RCTs were excluded because of their small sample sizes and inclusion of doses not further explored in phase 3 RCTs. Summary data from intention-to-treat analyses were extracted from included reports by JSL and PAO. The primary outcome was the induction of clinical remission. A network meta-analysis was done under the frequentist framework, obtaining pairwise odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs. The surface under the cumulative ranking (SUCRA) was used to rank the included agents for each outcome. Higher SUCRA scores correlate with better efficacy, whereas lower SUCRA scores correlate with better safety. Maintenance data on efficacy for treat-straight-through and randomised responder trials are also presented. This study is registered with PROSPERO, CRD42021225329. Our search yielded 5904 results, from which 29 studies (four being head-to-head RCTs) fulfilled our inclusion criteria and were included. Of these, 23 studies assessed induction therapy with either a biologic or small molecule drug, comprising 10 061 patients with ulcerative colitis. A risk of bias assessment showed a low risk of bias for most of the included studies. Upadacitinib was significantly superior to all other interventions for the induction of clinical remission (infliximab [OR 2·70, 95% CI 1·18-6·20], adalimumab [4·64, 2·47-8·71], golimumab [3·00, 1·32-6·82], vedolizumab [3·56, 1·84-6·91], ustekinumab [2·92, 1·31-6·51], etrolizumab [4·91, 2·59-9·31], tofacitinib [2·84, 1·28-6·31], filgotinib 100 mg [6·15, 2·98-12·72], filgotinib 200 mg [4·49, 2·18-9·24], and ozanimod (2·70, 1·18-6·20), and ranked highest for the induction of clinical remission (SUCRA 0·996). No differences between active interventions were observed when assessing adverse events and serious adverse events. Vedolizumab ranked lowest for both adverse events (SUCRA 0·184) and serious adverse events (0·139), whereas upadacitinib ranked highest for adverse events (0·843) and ozanimod ranked highest for serious adverse events (0·831). Upadacitinib was the best performing agent for the induction of clinical remission (the primary outcome) but the worst performing agent in terms of adverse events in patients with moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis. Vedolizumab was the best performing agent for safety outcomes. With the paucity of direct comparisons in the published literature, our results might help clinicians to position drugs in treatment algorithms. None.

Granulocyte and monocyte apheresis as an adjunctive therapy to induce and maintain clinical remission in ulcerative colitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

ObjectiveThe goal of treatment in ulcerative colitis (UC) is to induce and maintain remission. The addition of granulocyte and monocyte apheresis (GMA) to conventional therapy may be a promising therapeutic alternative. In this meta-analysis, we aimed to assess the efficacy and safety profile of GMA as an adjunctive therapy.DesignSystematic review and meta-analysis.MethodsWe searched four databases (MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials) for randomised or minimised controlled trials which discussed the impact of additional GMA therapy on clinical remission induction and clinical remission maintenance compared with conventional therapy alone. Primary outcomes were clinical remission induction and maintenance, secondary outcomes were adverse events (AEs) and steroid-sparing effect. ORs with 95% CIs were calculated. Trial Sequential Analyses were performed to adjusts for the risk of random errors in meta-analyses.ResultsA total of 11 studies were eligible for meta-analysis. GMA was clearly demonstrated to induce and maintain clinical remission more effectively than conventional therapy alone (598 patients: OR: 1.93, 95% CI 1.28 to 2.91, p=0.002, I2=0.0% for induction; 71 patients: OR: 8.34, 95% CI 2.64 to 26.32, p<0.001, I2=0.0% for maintenance). There was no statistically significant difference in the number of AEs (OR: 0.27, 95% CI 0.05 to 1.50, p=0.135, I2=84.2%).ConclusionGMA appears to be more effective as an adjunctive treatment in inducing and maintaining remission in patients with UC than conventional therapy alone.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42019134050.

Safety and effectiveness of ustekinumab for induction of remission in patients with Crohn's disease: A multicenter Israeli study.

Ustekinumab is an effective treatment of Crohn's disease (CD). Real-world data addressing the efficacy and safety of ustekinumab are scarce. Our aim was to assess the safety and efficacy of ustekinumab in a large national patient cohort. A prospective multicenter study, in which we followed patients with active CD treated with ustekinumab for 24 weeks. Induction dose was intravenous ranging from 260 to 520 mg, according to body weight, followed by 90 mg doses given subcutaneously every 8 weeks. Clinical response was defined as a reduction of at least 1 severity category, as defined by Harvey-Bradshaw index (HBI). Patients with HBI < 5 were considered to be in clinical remission. Patients who stopped needing steroids at week 24 were defined as being in steroid-free clinical remission. A total of 106 CD patients from eight Israeli centers were included. All patients were previously exposed to at least one biological agent. Our cohort consisted of 65 (61.3%) females. Mean age was 41 ± 14 years with an average disease duration of 12.2 ± 8 years. A total of 96 (90.5%) patients continued treatment throughout week 24. Clinical response was observed in 52% of these patients with mean HBI reduction from 8.34 ± 3.8 to 6.8 ± 4.4 at week 24 (p = 0.001). Clinical remission was achieved in 33 patients (31.1%). Moreover, the number of patients requiring steroid treatment was reduced by 66% at week 24. Out of 106 patients, 11 patients (10.4%) discontinued treatment: 3 due to adverse events (2.8%), 7 due to a lack of response, and 1 who was lost to follow-up. Following 24 weeks of treatment, 15 patients reported minor adverse events. In a large real-world Israeli cohort of non-naïve-to-biological-treatment CD patients, ustekinumab was effective and safe in induction of clinical remission with a significant reduction in the number of patients requiring steroid treatment.

Faecal Microbial Transplantation is as Effective as Targeted Therapies for Induction of Clinical and Endoscopic Remission in Ulcerative Colitis: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis

Background: Microbiome manipulation with fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has shown efficacy in induction of remission in ulcerative colitis (UC), yet information on the comparative efficacy of FMT with other targeted therapies is lacking. We did a network meta-analysis to compare the efficacy and safety of FMT with targeted therapies for induction of remission in UC. Methods: We analyzed data from randomized controlled trials(RCTs) evaluating induction of remission in adults with UC treated with anti-TNF (infliximab and adalimumab), anti-integrin (vedolizumab), anti-IL23(ustekinumab), Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors (tofacitinib), and FMT, compared with placebo or another active agent. The outcomes assessed were induction of clinical remission, clinical response, endoscopic remission, and adverse events. Both pairwise and network meta-analysis were performed, and ranking was assessed using surface under the cumulative ranking(SUCRA) probabilities. Findings: Overall nineteen studies were included, among which there was only one head to head RCT (adalimumab vs. vedolizumab). All interventions including FMT were superior to placebo in inducing clinical remission (except adalimumab-OR 1.66; 95% CI, 0.97-2.85), clinical response and endoscopic remission. FMT was comparable with other agents for all efficacy outcomes including clinical remission and response, and endoscopic remission. Infliximab was ranked highest in inducing clinical remission (SUCRA, 0.8), vedolizumab in clinical response (SUCRA, 0.9) and tofacitinib in endoscopic remission (SUCRA, 0.9). There was no difference in safety outcomes between FMT and other targeted therapies, among which ustekinumab ranked the safest. Interpretation: FMT is as effective as targeted therapies in inducing clinical remission, response and endoscopic remission in patients with ulcerative colitis. Funding Statement: None Declaration of Interests: None.

P728 Comparative assessment of faecal microbiota transplantation and current therapies as induction treatment for active refractory ulcerative colitis: A systematic review and network meta-analysis

Abstract Background Emerging evidence suggests that faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) can induce remission in patients with refractory to standard treatment ulcerative colitis (UC). Methods We performed a systematic review and network meta-analysis to assess the comparative efficacy and safety of FMT and current therapies as induction treatments in UC. We searched Medline, Embase, CENTRAL and grey literature sources up to October 2019. We included randomised controlled trials of patients with active UC that compared FMT, infliximab, adalimumab, golimumab, vedolizumab and tofacitinib to each other or placebo. Efficacy outcomes were clinical remission and response. Safety outcomes were incidence of any adverse event (AE), serious AEs and infections. We conducted random-effects network meta-analysis and ranked treatments based on the surface under the cumulative ranking (SUCRA) probabilities. Results Twenty trials (5177 patients) were included in the analysis. There was only one head to head RCT (vedolizumab vs. adalimumab). FMT was superior to placebo for induction of clinical remission (OR 2.80; 95% CI 1.50–5.23) and response (OR 2.53; 95% CI 1.53–4.20). No indirect comparisons between FMT and licensed treatments reached statistical significance for efficacy outcomes. On SUCRA analysis, FMT (SUCRA 0.57, 0.58) had comparable SUCRA values with golimumab (SUCRA 0.53, 0.39) and vedolizumab (SUCRA 0.58, 0.61) in terms of clinical remission and response respectively. Infliximab (SUCRA 0.71, 0.93) and tofacitinib (SUCRA 0.85, 0.75) were ranked highest while adalimumab (SUCRA 0.23, 0.21) was ranked lowest. There was no increase in the rates of any AEs for FMT and licensed therapies and no differences in indirect comparisons. Vedolizumab (SUCRA 0.81) was the safest option, followed by tofacitinib (SUCRA 0.55). FMT (SUCRA 0.38) had comparable SUCRA values with adalimumab (SUCRA 0.37) and golimumab (SUCRA 0.47). Only tofacitinib increased the incidence of infections compared with placebo (OR 1.51; 95%CI 1.05–2.19). Based on SUCRAs, FMT (SUCRA 0.83) was the safest in terms of infections. Vedolizumab had lower incidence of serious AEs compared with FMT and placebo, while FMT was ranked as the least safe treatment. In subgroup analysis, FMT through the lower gastrointestinal (GI) tract was superior to placebo (OR 3.92; 95%CI 1.94–7.92) and performed numerically better than FMT through the upper GI tract (OR 0.29; 95%CI 0.08–1.13). Conclusion Evidence suggests that FMT could be an efficacious and safe alternative induction therapy for refractory UC. Lower GI delivery of FMT might be more effective. Due to the absence of head-to-head trials and the limited size of FMT trials, conclusions must be interpreted with caution.

Evidence supporting the benefits of marijuana for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis is extremely limited: a meta-analysis of the literature.

BackgroundMedical marijuana is increasingly used to control inflammation and pain in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We performed a meta-analysis to investigate the effect of marijuana on the clinical response, induction of clinical remission, and maintenance of clinical remission compared to placebo/standard of care.MethodsWe performed a systematic search of PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science in June 2019, for cannabis/marijuana and IBD, Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis (UC). The statistical analysis was performed using Revman (version 5.3). GRADE methodology was used to assess the quality of the evidence.ResultsOf the 334 studies initially reviewed, 1 trial in UC and 2 trials in Crohn’s disease met eligibility. For UC, 29 patients were treated with marijuana and 31 with placebo/standard of care. There was no difference in failure to achieve clinical remission (relative risk [RR] 1.02, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.76-1.37) or response (RR 0.99, 95%CI 0.65-1.21). Adverse events occurred in all patients receiving marijuana (RR 1.28, 95%CI 1.05-1.56). For Crohn’s disease, 21 patients were treated with marijuana and 19 with placebo/standard of care. There was no difference in failure to achieve clinical remission (RR 0.72, 95%CI 0.47-1.12) or failure to achieve clinical response (RR 0.15, 95%CI 0.02-1.05). Adverse events were not reported per patient. The quality of evidence was low to very low using GRADE methodology.ConclusionsData supporting the use of marijuana for the management of IBD are extremely limited. Further well-designed studies are needed before any positive conclusions regarding marijuana use can be drawn.

713 A Randomized, Multicenter, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study of a Targeted Release Oral Cyclosporine Formulation in the Treatment of Mild to Moderate Ulcerative Colitis: Influence of Immunosuppressants at Baseline

INTRODUCTION: Patients (pts) with ulcerative colitis (UC) who have failed immunosuppressants (IM) and biologics have demonstrated poorer response to subsequent therapies. 1 Cyclosporine (CsA) could be an alternative option since it has similar efficacy and safety to infliximab for severe UC, 2 but its use is limited due to concerns regarding systemic toxicity. ST-0529 is a novel oral formulation of CsA that delivers the drug directly to the colon, allowing for precise targeting of the diseased tissue while potentially limiting the risk of systemic toxicity. METHODS: A phase IIa study was conducted in a total of 118 subjects with baseline Disease Activity Index (DAI) &lt; 6 (mild UC) or ≥6 (moderate UC), randomized 1:1 to receive 75 mg ST-0529 once daily (n = 53) or placebo (n = 65) for 4 weeks. The primary endpoint was the induction of clinical remission (DAI score ≤2, with no individual score &gt;1 and rectal bleeding subscore of 0 or 1). The secondary endpoints were safety and tolerability, mucosal healing, clinical response, and histological healing. 3,4 Post-hoc subgroup analysis was conducted in 93 subjects with moderate UC, of whom 75 received at baseline 5-ASA alone or in combination (n = 51, with/without steroids; n = 24, with/without IM) to evaluate the impact of them on clinical improvement (DAI reduction ≥3) and composite subscores (rectal bleeding and stool frequency with or without mucosal appearance evaluation). RESULTS: Table 1 shows the influence of baseline medications on the improvement of DAI scores in subjects with moderate UC, and Tables 2 and 3, the impact of IM on the analyzed parameters. Safety was balanced for the overall population. CONCLUSION: This analysis showed that clinical improvement and composite subscores were influenced by baseline medication in pts with moderate UC. The poorer response in the IM treated group was potentially a function of severity or refractory disease and/or concomitant use of UC medication (prednisone &lt; 10 mg/day, 5-ASAs or purine analogues) at baseline. Concomitant UC medications were not restricted at study entry as long as pts maintained stable dosing regimens throughout. These preliminary data support further investigation of ST-0529 usage as a twice daily treatment for the induction and maintenance of remission in UC pts with moderate disease, which will be the focus of the phase IIb trial.

Efficacy and Safety of Oral Janus Kinase Inhibitors for Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors are novel agents for treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. We aimed to determine the efficacy and safety of Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors for the treatment of Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted. PubMed, Embase, and CENTRAL were searched to November 1, 2018 for randomized placebo-controlled trials (RCTs) of JAK inhibitors in adult patients with CD or UC. Clinical, endoscopic, and safety outcomes were extracted and rates relative to placebo were pooled using a random-effects model. Findings: A total of 12 RCTs (5 CD, 7 UC) were included. Patients were randomized to placebo (n=844), tofacitinib (n=1,882), filgotinib (n=130), peficitinib (n=176), upadacitinib (n=387), or TD-1473 (n=31). JAK inhibitor treatment was associated with induction of clinical remission in CD (relative risk RR 1∙38 [95% confidence interval CI 1∙04-1∙83], p=0 ∙025, I2=14%) and UC (RR 3∙07 [95% CI: 2∙03-4∙63], p<0∙001, I2=0%). In UC, JAK inhibitor treatment was associated with induction of endoscopic remission (endoscopic Mayo subscore MCSe=0/1) (RR 2∙43 [95% CI: 1∙64- 3∙59], p<0∙001, I2=27%) and mucosal healing (MCSe=0) (RR 5∙50 [95% CI: 2∙46-12∙32], p<0∙001, I2=0%). JAK inhibitor treatment increased the risk of infection compared to placebo (RR 1∙40 [95% CI: 1∙18-1∙67], p<0∙001, I2=0%), particularly for herpes zoster. All studies were rated as low or unclear risk of bias. Interpretation: JAK inhibitors are effective for induction of clinical and endoscopic remission in CD and UC, although are associated with an increased risk of infectious complications. Funding Statement: There was no funding source for this study. Christopher Ma is supported by a Clinician Fellowship from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology. Niels Vande Casteele is supported by a Research Scholar Award from the American Gastroenterological Association. Declaration of Interests: Christopher Ma, Jeffrey Lee, Anish Mitra, Anouar Teriaky, and Daksh Choudhary have no conflicts of interest to disclose. Tran Nguyen is an employee of Robarts Clinical Trials, Inc. Niels Vande Casteele has received research support from R-Biopharm and Takeda and consulting fees from Janssen, Pfizer, Progenity, Prometheus, Takeda, and UCB. Reena Khanna has received consulting/speaker fees from AbbVie, Encycle, Janssen, Merck, Pendopharm, Pfizer, Roche, Robarts Clinical Trials, Shire, and Takeda Canada. Remo Panaccione has received scientific advisory board fees from Abbott/AbbVie, Amgen, Janssen, Merck, Pfizer, Prometheus Laboratories, Salix Pharma, Shire, Takeda, and Warner Chilcott, consulting fees from Abbott/AbbVie, Amgen, Aptalis, Astra Zeneca, Baxter, BMS, Centocor, Elan/Biogen, Eisai, Ferring, GSK, Janssen, Merck, Millennium, Pfizer, Proctor & Gamble, Prometheus Therapeutics and Diagnostics, Schering-Plough, Shire, Takeda, UCB Pharma, and Warner Chilcott, research grants from Abbott/AbbVie, Amgen, Aptalis, Astra Zeneca, Baxter, BMS, Centocor, Eisai, Elan/Biogen, Ferring, GSK, Janssen, Merck, Millennium, Pfizer, Proctor & Gamble, Prometheus, Shire, Schering-Plough, Takeda, UCB Pharma, and Warner Chilcott, and speaker’s bureau fees from Abbott/AbbVie, Amgen, Aptalis, Astra Zeneca, Baxter, BMS, Centocor, Eisai, Elan/Biogen, Ferring, GSK, Janssen, Merck, Millennium, Pfizer, Proctor & Gamble, Prometheus, Schering-Plough, Shire, Takeda, UCB Pharma, and Warner Chilcott. Brian Feagan has received grant/research support from Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Merck, Tillotts Pharma AG, AbbVie, Novartis Pharmaceuticals, Centocor Inc., Elan/Biogen, UCB Pharma, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Genentech, ActoGenix, and Wyeth Pharmaceuticals Inc.; consulting fees from Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Merck, Centocor Inc., Elan/Biogen, Janssen440 Ortho, Teva Pharmaceuticals, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene, UCB Pharma, AbbVie, Astra Zeneca, Serono, Genentech, Tillotts Pharma AG, Unity Pharmaceuticals, Albireo Pharma, Given Imaging Inc., Salix Pharmaceuticals, Novonordisk, GSK, Actogenix, Prometheus Therapeutics and Diagnostics, Athersys, Axcan, Gilead, Pfizer, Shire, Wyeth, Zealand Pharma, Zyngenia, GiCare Pharma Inc., and Sigmoid Pharma; and speaker’s fees from UCB, AbbVie, and J&J/Janssen. Vipul Jairath has received consulting fees from AbbVie, Eli Lilly, GlaxoSmithKline, Arena pharmaceuticals, Genetech, Pendopharm, Sandoz, Merck, Takeda, Janssen, Robarts Clinical Trials, Topivert, Celltrion; speaker’s fees from Takeda, Janssen, Shire, Ferring, Abbvie, Pfizer Ethics Approval Statement: PRISMA guidelines referenced.

Systematic review with meta-analysis: efficacy and safety of oral Janus kinase inhibitors for inflammatory bowel disease.

Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors represent a novel therapeutic class for treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. To determine the efficacy and safety of JAK inhibitors compared to placebo for the treatment of Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). PubMed, Embase and CENTRAL were systematically searched to November 1, 2018. Randomised placebo-controlled trials (RCTs) of JAK inhibitors in adult patients with CD or UC were eligible. Open-label extension studies without a placebo comparator arm were excluded. Clinical, endoscopic, and safety outcomes were extracted and rates relative to placebo were pooled using a random-effects model. A total of 12 RCTs (5 CD, 7 UC) were included. Patients were randomised to placebo (n=844), tofacitinib (n=1882), filgotinib (n=130), peficitinib (n=176), upadacitinib (n=387) or TD-1473 (n=31). JAK inhibitor treatment was associated with induction of clinical remission in CD (RR, relative risk 1.38 [95% confidence interval CI 1.04-1.83], P=0.025, I2 =14%) and UC (RR 3.07 [95% CI 2.03-4.63], P<0.001, I2 =0%). In UC, JAK inhibitor treatment was associated with induction of endoscopic remission (endoscopic Mayo subscore MCSe=0/1) (RR 2.43 [95% CI 1.64-3.59], P<0.001, I2 =27%) and mucosal healing (MCSe=0) (RR 5.50 [95% CI 2.46-12.32], P<0.001, I2 =0%). JAK inhibitor treatment increased the risk of infection compared to placebo (RR 1.40 [95% CI 1.18-1.67], P<0.001, I2 =0%), particularly for herpes zoster. JAK inhibitors are effective for inducing clinical remission in CD and induction of clinical and endoscopic remission in UC, although are associated with an increased risk of infectious complications.

Narrative review of therapies for chronic enteropathies in dogs and cats.

BackgroundThe optimal medical treatment for chronic enteropathy (CE) in dogs and cats is controversial. Sequential treatment using diet, antimicrobials, and immunosuppressive drugs is the most common strategy used by clinicians.ObjectivesTo review the evidence for the effectiveness of dietary, drug, and alternative health interventions for inducing clinical remission in dogs and cats with CE.AnimalsRetrospective study of dogs and cats with a diagnosis of chronic enteropathy.MethodsMEDLINE and Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI) databases (1950 to March 2017) were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs), observational studies, and case series. The primary outcome was induction of clinical remission. All studies were evaluated using the quality of evidence grading guidelines (I‐IV), which assign a score defining the strength and quality of the evidence.ResultsTwenty‐two studies (11 RCTs in dogs and 2 in cats and 9 cohort studies or case series) met the inclusion criteria for inducing remission of gastrointestinal (GI) signs. Of the 13 RCTs achieving grade I scores, 10 studies (totaling 218 dogs and 65 cats) compared single treatment: diet (n = 3), immunosuppressives (n = 3), antimicrobials (n = 2), anti‐inflammatory drugs (n = 1), and probiotics (n = 1). Three case series (grade III) reported clinical remission using an elimination diet fed to 55 cats and use of enrofloxacin to induce remission in dogs with granulomatous colitis (2 studies totaling 16 dogs).Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceThe current evidence for treatment of CE is much greater in dogs than in cats. There is sufficient strong evidence to recommend the use of therapeutic GI diets, glucocorticoids, enrofloxacin, or some combination of these in dogs with CE. Therapeutic GI diets and glucocorticoids are most useful in cats with CE.

Anti-TNF-α Therapy Suppresses Proinflammatory Activities of Mucosal Neutrophils in Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Neutrophils have been found to play an important role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and anti-TNF-α mAb (i.e., infliximab) therapy is demonstrated to be effective in the induction of clinical remission and mucosal healing in these patients. However, how anti-TNF-α mAb regulates the functions of neutrophils is still unknown. Herein, we found that anti-TNF-α therapy significantly downregulated infiltration of neutrophils in inflamed mucosa of IBD patients. Importantly, anti-TNF-α mAb could inhibit neutrophils to produce proinflammatory mediators, such as ROS, calprotectin, IL-8, IL-6, and TNF-α. These data indicate that TNF-α plays a critical role in the induction of mucosal inflammatory response, and that blockade of TNF-α modulates intestinal homeostasis through balancing immune responses of neutrophils.

Fecal transplantation for treatment of inflammatory bowel disease.

Fecal transplantation for treatment of inflammatory bowel disease.

Fecal transplantation for treatment of inflammatory bowel disease

Fecal transplantation for treatment of inflammatory bowel disease

Efficacy and Safety of Vedolizumab for Induction of Remission in Inflammatory Bowel Disease-the Israeli Real-World Experience.

Vedolizumab (VDZ) is an anti-integrin monoclonal antibody effective in ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD). The aim of this study was to examine the "real world" efficacy and safety of VDZ in a large national patient cohort. Patients with inflammatory bowel disease treated with VDZ were prospectively followed for 14 weeks. Patients who completed the induction protocol (week 0/2/6/14) or discontinued the treatment before week 14 for adverse events (AEs) or primary nonresponse were included. The primary outcome was induction of clinical remission at week 14; secondary outcomes included clinical response and corticosteroid-free clinical remission. A total of 204 patients (CD-130, UC-69, inflammatory bowel disease-unclassified-5) from 8 centers in Israel were included. Fifteen (7.4%) of the patients were anti-tumor necrosis factor naive and 46 (35.4%) had a previous surgery. For patients with CD, 69/130 (53.1%) responded to treatment; 45 (34.6%) achieved clinical remission; and 38 (29.2%) achieved corticosteroid-free remission at week 14. Fourteen (10.7%) patients discontinued VDZ before week 14 due to primary nonresponse or AEs. For UC, 32/74 (43.2%) responded to treatment; 20 (28.4%) achieved clinical remission, and 18 (24.3%) achieved corticosteroid-free remission at week 14. Fifteen (20.3%) patients with UC did not complete the induction due to primary nonresponse or AEs. AEs were reported by 29 (14.2%) patients (CD and UC combined), most common being nasopharyngitis and skin eruptions. In a large real-world Israeli cohort of anti-tumor necrosis factor-experienced patients with inflammatory bowel disease, VDZ was effective and safe in induction of clinical remission and steroid-free clinical remission.

Smad7 as a Target for Immunomodulation Strategy in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are chronic inflammatory pathologies of the gut, characterized by a relapsing-remitting course. Although IBD pathogenesis is not fully understood, epidemiological and experimental data suggest that multiple environmental factors can, in genetically predisposed individuals, trigger an excessive immune response directed against the antigens of the normal intestinal microflora, which eventually leads to the tissue damage. Defects in the physiological mechanisms/factors of counter-regulation contribute to amplify and sustain such a detrimental response. For instance, in inflamed tissue of IBD patients there is diminished activity of the immunesuppressive cytokine transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, due to elevated levels of Smad7, an intracellular inhibitor of TGF-β1 signaling. Consistently, knockdown of Smad7 with a specific antisense oligonucleotide suppresses inflammatory signals in cultured intestinal cells of IBD patients and in the gut of mice with IBD-like experimental colitis. Moreover, treatment of patients with active Crohn’s disease, one of the two major IBD in human beings, with Mongersen, an oral compound containing Smad7 antisense oligonucleotide, is accompanied by induction of clinical remission. Altogether these data indicate that targeting Smad7 represents a promising approach to modulate the ongoing mucosal inflammation in IBD.

Clinical Effects of a Topically Applied Toll-like Receptor 9 Agonist in Active Moderate-to-Severe Ulcerative Colitis.

Background and Aims:Toll-like receptors [TLRs] are potential drug targets for immunomodulation. We determined the safety and efficacy of the TLR-9 agonist DNA-based immunomodulatory sequence 0150 [DIMS0150] in ulcerative colitis [UC] patients refractory to standard therapy.Methods:In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 131 patients with moderate-to-severe active UC were randomized to receive two single doses of the oligonucleotide DIMS0150 [30 mg] or placebo administered topically during lower GI endoscopy at baseline and Week 4. The primary endpoint was clinical remission, defined as Clinical Activity Index [CAI] ≤4, at Week 12. Secondary endpoints included mucosal healing and symptomatic remission of key patient-reported outcomes [absence of blood in stool and weekly stool frequency <35].Results:There was no statistical significant difference between the groups in the induction of clinical remission at Week 12, with 44.4% in the DIMS0150 group vs. 46.5% in the placebo group. However, the proportion of patients who achieved symptomatic remission was 32.1% in the DIMS0150 group vs. 14.0% in the placebo group at Week 4 [p = 0.020], and 44.4% vs. 27.9% at Week 8 [p = 0.061]. More patients on DIMS0150 compared with those on placebo had mucosal healing [34.6% vs. 18.6%; p = 0.09] and histological improvement regarding the Geboes score [30.9% vs. 9.3%; p = 0.0073] at Week 4. Significantly more patients on DIMS0150 were in clinical remission with mucosal healing at Week 4: 21% vs. 4.7% in the placebo group [p = 0.02]. DIMS0150 was well tolerated, and no safety signals compared with placebo were evident.Conclusions:Therapy with the topically applied TLR-9 agonist DIMS0150 is a promising and well-tolerated novel therapeutic option for treatment-refractory, chronic active UC patients, warranting further clinical trials.

Efficacy and Safety of the Biosimilar Infliximab CT-P13 Treatment in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: A Prospective, Multicentre, Nationwide Cohort.

Biosimilar infliximab CT-P13 is approved for all indications of the originator product in Europe. Prospective data on its efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity in inflammatory bowel diseases are lacking. A prospective, nationwide, multicentre, observational cohort was designed to examine the efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity of CT-P13 infliximab biosimilar in the induction treatment of Crohn's disease [CD] and ulcerative colitis [UC]. Demographic data were collected and a harmonised monitoring strategy was applied. Early clinical remission, response, and early biochemical response were evaluated at Week 14, steroid-free clinical remission was evaluated at Week 30. Therapeutic drug level was monitored using a conventional enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In all, 210 consecutive inflammatory bowel disease [126 CD and 84 UC] patients were included in the present cohort. At Week 14, 81.4% of CD and 77.6% of UC patients showed clinical response and 53.6% of CD and 58.6% of UC patients were in clinical remission. Clinical remission rates at Week 14 were significantly higher in CD and UC patients who were infliximab naïve, compared with those with previous exposure to the originator compound [p < 0.05]. Until Week 30, adverse events were experienced in 17.1% of all patients. Infusion reactions and infectious adverse events occurred in 6.6% and 5.7% of all patients, respectively. This prospective multicentre cohort shows that CT-P13 is safe and effective in the induction of clinical remission and response in both CD and UC. Patients with previous infliximab exposure exhibited decreased response rates and were more likely to develop allergic reactions.