Inflammatory Bowel Disease Trials Research Articles

Geographic Inequities in Access to Phase 3 Clinical Trials for Inflammatory Bowel Disease in the United States

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are an important mode of access to treatments for patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) (eg, Crohn's disease [CD], ulcerative colitis [UC]), and a critical step in the regulatory process toward the approval of new therapies. Prior studies examining disparities in RCT participation for patients with IBD have importantly focused on racial and age-related disparities.1,2 Lack of geographic access to trials may be an important barrier to participation and a source of inequity. The aim of our study was to geographically map access to phase 3 clinical trials in IBD within the United States, and identify the impact of rural residence and socioeconomic status on access to trials.

Enhancing Regulatory T Cells to Treat Inflammatory and Autoimmune Diseases.

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) control immune responses and are essential to maintain immune homeostasis and self-tolerance. Hence, it is no coincidence that autoimmune and chronic inflammatory disorders are associated with defects in Tregs. These diseases have currently no cure and are treated with palliative drugs such as immunosuppressant and immunomodulatory agents. Thereby, there is a great interest in developing medical interventions against these diseases based on enhancing Treg cell function and numbers. Here, we give an overview of Treg cell ontogeny and function, paying particular attention to mucosal Tregs. We review some notable approaches to enhance immunomodulation by Tregs with therapeutic purposes including adoptive Treg cell transfer therapy and discuss relevant clinical trials for inflammatory bowel disease. We next introduce ways to expand mucosal Tregs in vivo using microbiota and dietary products that have been the focus of clinical trials in various autoimmune and chronic-inflammatory diseases.

Anti-β7 integrin treatment impedes the recruitment on non-classical monocytes to the gut and delays macrophage-mediated intestinal wound healing.

Closing mucosal defects to reach mucosal healing is an important goal of therapy in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Among other cells, monocyte-derived macrophages are centrally involved in such intestinal wound healing. We had previously demonstrated that the anti-α4β7 integrin antibody vedolizumab blocks the recruitment of non-classical monocytes as biased progenitors of wound healing macrophages to the gut and delays wound healing. However, although important for the interpretation of disappointing results in recent phase III trials in IBD, the effects of the anti-β7 antibody etrolizumab on wound healing are unclear so far. We analyzed the expression of etrolizumab targets on human and mouse monocyte subsets by flow cytometry and assessed their function in adhesion and homing assays. We explored wound-associated monocyte recruitment dynamics with multi-photon microscopy and compared the effects of etrolizumab and vedolizumab surrogate (-s) antibodies on experimental wound healing and wound-associated macrophage abundance. Finally, we investigated wound healing macrophage signatures in the large intestinal transcriptome of patients with Crohn's disease treated with etrolizumab. Human and mouse non-classical monocytes expressed more αEβ7 integrin than classical monocytes and were a target of etrolizumab-s, which blocked non-classical monocyte adhesion to MAdCAM-1 and E-Cadherin as well as gut homing in vivo. Intestinal wound healing was delayed on treatment with etrolizumab-s along with a reduction of peri-lesional wound healing macrophages. Wound healing macrophage signatures in the colon of patients with Crohn's disease were substantially down-regulated on treatment with etrolizumab, but not with placebo. Combined blockade of αEβ7 and α4β7 with etrolizumab seems to exceed the effect of anti-α4β7 treatment on intestinal wound healing, which might help to inform further investigations to understand the recent observations in the etrolizumab phase III trial program.

Declining Enrolment and Other Challenges in IBD Clinical Trials: Causes and Potential Solutions.

Rates of enrolment in clinical trials in inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] have decreased dramatically in recent years. This has led to delays, increased costs and failures to develop novel treatments. The aim of this work is to describe the current bottlenecks of IBD clinical trial enrolment and propose solutions. A taskforce comprising experienced IBD clinical trialists from academic centres and pharmaceutical companies involved in IBD clinical research predefined the four following levels: [1] study design, [2] investigative centre, [3] physician and [4] patient. At each level, the taskforce collectively explored the reasons for declining enrolment rates and generated an inventory of potential solutions. The main reasons identified included the overall increased demands for trials, the high screen failure rates, particularly in Crohn's disease, partly due to the lack of correlation between clinical and endoscopic activity, and the use of complicated endoscopic scoring systems not reflective of the totality of inflammation. In addition, complex trial protocols with restrictive eligibility criteria, increasing burden of procedures and administrative tasks enhance the need for qualified resources in study coordination. At the physician level, lack of dedicated time and training is crucial. From the patients' perspective, long washout periods from previous medications and protocol requirements not reflecting clinical practice, such as prolonged steroid management and placebo exposures, limit their participation in clinical trials. This joint effort is proposed as the basis for profound clinical trial transformation triggered by investigative centres, contract research organizations, sponsors and regulatory agencies.

P872 Underrepresentation of Palestinian Citizens of Israel in Israeli Inflammatory Bowel Disease Trials

Abstract Background Recent studies have described a significant racial disparity, with a very low proportion of racial minorities, in clinical trials of therapies for inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), along with limited reporting of ethnicity data. Palestinian citizens of Israel (commonly referred to as Israeli Arabs) are Israel’s largest ethnic minority, comprising 21% of the Israeli population. This minority group suffers from substantial health inequalities, as evidenced by increased rates of obesity, smoking and diabetes and a lower life expectancy compared to Israeli Jews. It is worth noting that the incidence of IBD among Palestinian citizens of Israel is on the rise. We sought to describe ethnic representation in Israeli IBD clinical trials. Methods We systematically reviewed Israeli IBD trials from the past 20 years. Each publication was examined for ethnicity data. The proportion of trials reporting ethnicity were calculated among all reported. Results The search yielded 99 publications. The year of publication ranged from 2002 to 2022. Only 7 of 99 trials (7.1%) included ethnicity demographics, with 92/99 (92.9%) not reporting ethnicity at all. There was no mention of ethnicity or limitations surrounding ethnicity inclusion in the discussion section of any of the other included publications. Of the 7 trials reporting ethnicity, 6 studies included Palestinian patients (6/99 trials, 6.1%). The other study reported data regarding IBD among Ethiopian Jews migrating to Israel. Data regarding the religious affiliation of Palestinian patients was available in 3 out of 6 studies (50%). Conclusion The reporting of ethnicity and the inclusion of Palestinian citizens of Israel in Israeli IBD trials have been poor. Greater effort should be made at multiple levels for the appropriate participation of all ethnic groups in Israeli IBD trials. We believe this will enhance our understanding of disease processes and response to treatment in different patient populations, and ultimately improve the quality of life of our patients.

Emerging non-invasive therapeutic approaches targeting hypocholinergic neural systems in Parkinson's disease.

Emerging non-invasive therapeutic approaches targeting hypocholinergic neural systems in Parkinson's disease.

Clinical remission in paired phase two and three studies in inflammatory bowel disease: a systematic review with meta-analysis.

Discrepancies in phase two and three studies can result in significant patient and financial burden, as well as the nonapproval of potentially efficacious drugs. We aimed to determine whether this discrepancy exists for clinical trials in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Electronic databases (MEDLINE and Embase) and clinical trial repositories were searched from 1 January 1946 to 12 March 2021, for paired phase two and three studies of advanced therapies for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. The primary outcome was to compare clinical remission rates between paired phase two and three studies for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Multivariable mixed-model meta-analysis was performed to calculate odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). The Cochrane risk-of-bias tool was used to grade the risk of bias. Of 2642 studies, 29 were included. Fifteen were phase three, 11 were phase two, one was phase one/two, and two were phase two/three. There were no differences in clinical remission rates between phase two and three studies for Crohn's disease (OR, 1.07; 95% CI, 0.86-1.34; P = 0.54) and ulcerative colitis (OR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.48-1.36; P = 0.43). Furthermore, there was a lack of any appreciable differences in study characteristics, inclusion criteria and patient demographics among paired phase two and three studies. Most studies were considered low risk of bias. Overall, paired phase two and three studies demonstrate similar clinical remission rates for advanced therapies in IBD. Whether this applies to newer outcomes, such as endoscopic and mucosal healing remains to be determined.

Economic impact of industry-sponsored clinical trials in inflammatory bowel diseases: Results from the national institute of gastroenterology "Saverio de Bellis".

Introduction: The majority of the money spent on possible new medications' clinical trials is accounted for by the innovative pharmaceutical sector, which also stimulates the economy of a nation. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of pharmaceutical industry-sponsored clinical trials (ISCTs) in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) towards the national health service (NHS) in terms of avoided costs and leverage effect. Methodology: The research was conducted at National Institute of Gastroenterology, "Saverio De Bellis", Castellana Grotte (Apulia, Italy) collecting data from profit ISCTs of pharmaceutical products conducted over the time period 2018-2020 with focus on inflammatory bowel diseases. After the quantification of health services and drug costs from the latter studies, avoided costs and leverage effects were then estimated. Results: The results on the avoided costs for healthcare facilities deriving from the conduct of clinical studies show that, in relation to the sample of five drug companies participating in our 2018-2020 analysis, out of a total of 235,102.46 €, identified as direct investment, 628,158.21 € of avoided costs for the NHS were measured, with an additional saving (leverage effect) for the NHS of 3.67 € for each € invested by the companies promoting clinical trials. Conclusion: Conducting profit clinical trials has practical benefits and a favourable macroeconomic impact that, by completing its limited resources, helps to sustain one country NHS thanks to the avoided costs while also contributing to locational and industrial policy while guaranteeing novel therapeutics and health services for the patients enrolled.

Ileocolonic-Targeted JAK Inhibitor: A Safer and More Effective Treatment for Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors, such as tofacitinib (Xeljanz) and filgotinib (Jyseleca), have been approved for treatment of ulcerative colitis with several other JAK inhibitors in late-stage clinical trials for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Despite their impressive efficacy, the risk of adverse effects accompanying the use of JAK inhibitors has brought the entire class under scrutiny, leading to them receiving an FDA black box warning. In this study we investigated whether ileocolonic-targeted delivery of a pan-JAK inhibitor, tofacitinib, can lead to increased tissue exposure and reduced systemic exposure compared to untargeted formulations. The stability of tofacitinib in the presence of rat colonic microbiota was first confirmed. Next, in vivo computed tomography imaging was performed in rats to determine the transit time and disintegration site of ileocolonic-targeted capsules compared to gastric release capsules. Pharmacokinetic studies demonstrated that systemic drug exposure was significantly decreased, and colonic tissue exposure increased at 10 mg/kg tofacitinib dosed in ileocolonic-targeted capsules compared to gastric release capsules and an oral solution. Finally, in a rat model of LPS-induced colonic inflammation, targeted tofacitinib capsules significantly reduced concentrations of proinflammatory interleukin 6 in colonic tissue compared to a vehicle-treated control (p = 0.0408), unlike gastric release tofacitinib capsules and orally administered dexamethasone. Overall, these results support further development of ileocolonic-targeted tofacitinib, and potentially other specific JAK inhibitors in pre-clinical and clinical development, for the treatment of IBD.

Partially randomised, patient preference trials for inflammatory bowel disease

Clinical trials, particularly randomised controlled trials (RCTs), have long been considered the gold-standard means to assess new interventions in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, similar to other areas of gastroenterology and hepatology, an increasing problem for trials in IBD has been the declining rates of patient participation and recruitment,1 contributing to the exponentially rising costs of conducting RCTs.2 In the same time period, there has also been an increasing appreciation of the factors (eg, intravenous, subcutaneous, or oral administration of medications) that could influence patients' preferences and decision making for treatments.

Anti-inflammatory effects of vagal nerve stimulation with aspecial attention to intestinal barrier dysfunction.

The vagus nerve (VN), the longest nerve of the organism innervating the gastrointestinal tract, is a mixed nerve with anti-inflammatory properties through its afferents, activating the hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal axis, and its efferents through the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway inhibiting the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines (e.g., TNFα) by splenic and gut macrophages. In addition, the VN is also able to modulate the permeability of the intestinal barrier although the VN does not innervate directly the intestinal epithelium. Targeting the VN through VN stimulation (VNS) has been developed in experimental model of intestinal inflammation and in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and might be of interest to decrease intestinal permeability in gastrointestinal disorders with intestinal barrier defect such as IBD, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and celiac disease. In this issue of neurogastroenterology and motility, Mogilevski et al. report that a brief non-invasive transcutaneous auricular VNS in healthy volunteers consistently reduces the permeability of the small intestine induced by intravenous administration of the stress peptide corticotropin releasing hormone, known to increase intestinal permeability and to inhibit the VN. In this review, we outline the mechanistic underpinning the effect of stress, of the VN and VNS on intestinal permeability. In particular, the VN can act on intestinal permeability through enteric nerves, and/or cells such as enteric glial cells. We also review the existing evidence of the effects VNS on intestinal permeability in models such as burn intestinal injury and traumatic brain injury, which pave the way for future clinical trials in IBD, IBS, and celiac disease.

Heterogeneity in Efficacy and Safety Endpoints for Pediatric Clinical Trials in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Need for Harmonization

Despite an increasing incidence and prevalence of pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (pIBD),1 relatively few randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are performed in children compared with adults. pIBD trials typically occur several years after adult regulatory approval, leading to “off-label” medication use without knowledge of optimal dosing. In addition, the scope of the clinical development pathways in pediatric populations differs from adults. Typically, a dedicated pediatric dose-ranging study is required to determine pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, safety, and tolerability, before a pediatric efficacy trial, which may or may not include placebo.

CORE-IBD: A Multidisciplinary International Consensus Initiative to Develop a Core Outcome Set for Randomized Controlled Trials in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

End points to determine the efficacy and safety of medical therapies for Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) are evolving. Given the heterogeneity in current outcome measures, harmonizing end points in a core outcome set for randomized controlled trials is a priority for drug development in inflammatory bowel disease. Candidate outcome domains and outcome measures were generated from systematic literature reviews and patient engagement surveys and interviews. An iterative Delphi process was conducted to establish consensus: panelists anonymously voted on items using a 9-point Likert scale, and feedback was incorporated between rounds to refine statements. Consensus meetings were held to ratify the outcome domains and core outcome measures. Stakeholders were recruited internationally, and included gastroenterologists, colorectal surgeons, methodologists, and clinical trialists. A total of 235 patients and 53 experts participated. Patient-reported outcomes, quality of life, endoscopy, biomarkers, and safety were considered core domains; histopathology was an additional domain for UC. In CD, there was consensus to use the 2-item patient-reported outcome (ie, abdominal pain and stool frequency), Crohn's Disease Activity Index, Simple Endoscopic Score for Crohn's Disease, C-reactive protein, fecal calprotectin, and co-primary end points of symptomatic remission and endoscopic response. In UC, there was consensus to use the 9-point Mayo Clinic Score, fecal urgency, Robarts Histopathology Index or Geboes Score, fecal calprotectin, and a composite primary end point including both symptomatic and endoscopic remission. Safety outcomes should be reported using the Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities. This multidisciplinary collaboration involving patients and clinical experts has produced the first core outcome set that can be applied to randomized controlled trials of CD and UC.

Comparative efficacy trials in inflammatory bowel disease: current and future implications for practice.

Over the last decade, there has been rapid expansion of the therapeutic armamentarium, and evolution of treatment strategies, for the management of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs). Consequently, there is an increasing need for head-to-head or comparative efficacy trials to inform optimal positioning of therapies, and pragmatic trials comparing treatment strategies to inform treatment approach. In this review, we will discuss the current status and future of comparative efficacy clinical trials in IBD. Pivotal phase IIIB superiority clinical trials have demonstrated superiority of vedolizumab over adalimumab for achieving clinical remission in patients with moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis (VARSITY) and failed to demonstrate superiority of ustekinumab over adalimumab in patients with moderate-to-severe Crohn's disease (SEAVUE). Noninferiority clinical trials of biosimilars have confirmed absence of meaningful differences in safety and efficacy of biosimilar infliximab over originator infliximab, as initial therapy or switching stable patients during maintenance. Network meta-analyses, indirect treatment comparison using patient-level data from placebo-controlled trials and real-world observational studies have inform comparative effectiveness and safety of different therapies for management of IBD. Head-to-head clinical trials are critically important to advance the field of IBD. Comparative efficacy trials are slow and expensive to conduct, may not be broadly generalizable, and are not powered for safety events or other relevant outcomes. Alternative approaches to comparative effectiveness such as network meta-analysis and well designed real-world observational studies are able to bridge gaps in clinical practice.

Acceptance commitment therapy (ACT) for psychological distress associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD): protocol for a feasibility trial of the ACTforIBD programme

IntroductionInflammatory bowel disease (IBD) involves an abnormal immune response to healthy gut bacteria. When a person develops IBD, their susceptibility to anxiety and/or depression increases. The ACTforIBD programme, specifically designed...

The Role of Tissue-Resident Macrophages in the Development and Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), comprising Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, is a refractory disease with many immune abnormalities and pathologies in the gastrointestinal tract. Because macrophages can distinguish innocuous antigens from potential pathogens to maintain mucosa barrier functions, they are essential cells in the intestinal immune system. With numerous numbers in the intestinal tract, tissue-resident macrophages have a significant effect on the constant regeneration of intestinal epithelial cells and maintaining the immune homeostasis of the intestinal mucosa. They also have a significant influence on IBD through regulating pro-(M1) or anti-inflammatory (M2) phenotype polarization according to different environmental cues. The disequilibrium of the phenotypes and functions of macrophages, disturbed by intracellular or extracellular stimuli, influences the progression of disease. Further investigation of macrophages’ role in the progression of IBD will facilitate deciphering the pathogenesis of disease and exploring novel targets to develop novel medications. In this review, we shed light on the origin and maintenance of intestinal macrophages, as well as the role of macrophages in the occurrence and development of IBD. In addition, we summarize the interaction between gut microbiota and intestinal macrophages, and the role of the macrophage-derived exosome. Furthermore, we discuss the molecular and cellular mechanisms participating in the polarization and functions of gut macrophages, the potential targeted strategies, and current clinical trials for IBD.

Review article: randomised controlled trials in inflammatory bowel disease-common challenges and potential solutions.

Recruitment rates for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis clinical trials continue to decrease annually. The inability to reach recruitment targets and complete trials has serious implications for stakeholders in the inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) community. Action is required to ensure patients with an unmet medical need have access to new therapies to improve the management of their IBD. Identify challenges contributing to recruitment decline in IBD clinical trials and propose potential solutions. PubMed and Google were used to identify literature, regulatory guidelines and conference proceedings related to IBD clinical trials and related concepts. Data on IBD clinical trials conducted between 1989 and 2020 were extracted from the Trialtrove database. Key aspects that may improve recruitment rates were identified. An increasingly patient-centric approach should be taken to study design including improvements to the readability of key trial documentation and inclusion of patient representatives in trial planning. Placebo is unappealing to patients; approaches including platform trials should be explored to minimise placebo exposure. Non-invasive imaging, biomarkers and novel digital endpoints should continue to be examined to reduce the burden on patients. Reducing the administrative burden associated with trials via the use of electronic signatures, for example, may benefit study sites and investigators. Changes implemented to IBD trials during the COVID-19 pandemic provided examples of how trial conduct can be rapidly and constructively adapted. To improve recruitment in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis trials, the IBD community should address a broad range of issues related to clinical trial conduct.

Underrepresentation of Minorities and Lack of Race Reporting in Ulcerative Colitis Drug Development Clinical Trials.

Lay Summary Historically, inflammatory bowel disease trials report high rates of White patients enrollment. To promote initiatives toward diversifying the enrolled population, we assessed the reporting of race and ethnicity of patients enrolled in pharmaceutical clinical trials for ulcerative colitis.

P404 Underrepresentation of minorities and lack of race reporting in ulcerative colitis drug development clinical trials

Abstract Background Historically, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) trials report high enrollment rates for white-caucasian patients. To promote initiatives towards diversifying patients enrolled in clinical trials, we assessed the reporting of race/ethnicity of patients enrolled in pharmaceutical clinical trials for ulcerative colitis (UC). Methods A previous systematic review of all placebo-controlled trials in adult patients with UC examining different therapeutic drug classes was performed from inception to December 2020. Trial and patient characteristics were summarized according to the type of variable. Categorical variables were summarized by displaying the number and percentage of trials or participants for each category. Continuous variables were summarized by displaying the weighted mean, weighted standard deviation, and range. Means and standard deviations (SD) were weighted by the number of participants in each trial. Results Descriptive statistics of trial and patient characteristics for, 95 induction trials and, 29 maintenance trials are summarized in Table, 1. Race was reported in, 37.9% (36/95) of induction studies, with most participants being White (86.3%;, 8610/9976). Furthermore, 21/36 (58.3%) studies reported race as White vs. non-White participants; and, 15/36 (41.7%) studies provided further breakdown, including Black (115/3414 patients [3.4%]), Asian (448/4136 patients [10.8%]), and “Other” (127/4136 patients [3.1%]). Moreover, 3/36 studies misreported race as ethnicity and, only, 3/36 studies reported ethnicities correctly, classifying patients as Hispanic/Latinx vs. Non-Hispanic/Latinx. For maintenance trials, 34.5% (10/29) studies reported race, with majority of participants being White (85.6%;, 2778/3246). Additionally, 6/10 studies reported only a White vs. non-White participants comparison, while, 4/10 reported other races, including Black (45/1145 patients [3.9%]), Asian (40/888 patients [4.5%]), and “Other” (26/1145 patients [2.3%]). No studies reported ethnicity. Conclusion Given the increasing burden of IBD in developing countries, differences amongst racial and ethnic groups are important to understand since they can influence disease phenotype, response to therapy, and safety outcomes.1 We found poor race reporting in UC clinical trials and observed that the vast majority of participants enrolled were White. These findings suggest that the population prevalence of UC amongst different racial groups is not reflected in clinical trial populations, being important to raise awareness of the existing barriers that prevent patients from accessing clinical trials. Reporting of race and ethnicity in UC clinical trials should be mandatory, and a requirement to enroll a certain percentage of non-White patients should be considered.2

Adverse Events of Biologic or Small Molecule Therapies in Clinical Trials for Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Adverse Events of Biologic or Small Molecule Therapies in Clinical Trials for Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis