Guselkumab in Patients With Moderately to Severely Active Ulcerative Colitis: QUASAR Phase 2b Induction Study

Combination Therapy With Guselkumab and Golimumab in Patients With Moderately to Severely Active Ulcerative Colitis: Pharmacokinetics, Immunogenicity and Drug-Drug Interactions

A proof-of-concept study with the combination of guselkumab and golimumab in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) has shown that the combination therapy resulted in greater efficacy than the individual monotherapies. The current analysis evaluated the pharmacokinetics (PK) and immunogenicity of guselkumab and golimumab in both the combination therapy and individual monotherapies. Blood samples were collected to evaluate serum concentrations and immunogenicity of guselkumab and golimumab. Population PK (PopPK) models were developed to assess the effects of combination therapy and other potential covariates on the PK of guselkumab and golimumab. The guselkumab PK was comparable between monotherapy and combination therapy, whereas golimumab concentrations were slightly higher with combination therapy. The anti-guselkumab antibody incidence was low with both monotherapy and combination therapy, and guselkumab immunogenicity did not impact the clearance. Conversely, the anti-golimumab antibody incidence with combination therapy was lower than that for monotherapy. PopPK analysis suggested that the slightly higher golimumab concentrations with combination therapy were partially due to lower immunogenicity and thus lower clearance with combination therapy. C-reactive protein (CRP) was also a significant covariate on golimumab clearance. The greater improvement of inflammation with combination therapy, as shown by reductions in CRP, may have also contributed to the higher golimumab concentrations. Combination therapy slightly decreased the clearance of golimumab, but not guselkumab clearance, in patients with UC. Lower immunogenicity and greater improvement of inflammation with combination therapy were potential mechanisms for slightly increased golimumab concentrations with combination therapy as compared with golimumab monotherapy.

IL-23 past, present, and future: a roadmap to advancing IL-23 science and therapy

Interleukin (IL)-23, an IL-12 cytokine family member, is a hierarchically dominant regulatory cytokine in a cluster of immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs), including psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and inflammatory bowel disease. We review IL-23 biology, IL-23 signaling in IMIDs, and the effect of IL-23 inhibition in treating these diseases. We propose studies to advance IL-23 biology and unravel differences in response to anti-IL-23 therapy. Experimental evidence generated from these investigations could establish a novel molecular ontology centered around IL-23-driven diseases, improve upon current approaches to treating IMIDs with IL-23 inhibition, and ultimately facilitate optimal identification of patients and, thereby, outcomes.

Choosing the right biologic treatment for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis: the impact of comorbidities

INTRODUCTION

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease often associated with several comorbidities, such as psoriatic arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, diabetes mellitus or cardiovascular diseases, infections, or cancer, among others. With the progressive aging of the population, a growing number of patients with psoriasis can be expected to present multiple comorbidities. Currently, there is a wide range of biological treatments available for moderate to severe psoriasis, including tumor necrosis alpha (TNF) inhibitors, IL12/23 inhibitor, IL17 inhibitors, and IL23 inhibitors.

AREAS COVERED

This review aims to describe the specific characteristics of these drugs in relation to psoriasis comorbidities, in order to facilitate decision-making in clinical practice.

EXPERT OPINION

Some of the biological treatments can influence comorbidities, in some cases even improving them. Therefore, comorbidities are a key factor when deciding on one biological treatment over another. The development of new drugs is expanding the therapeutic arsenal for psoriasis. A high level of expertise in the field with a detailed knowledge of the characteristics of every drug is imperative to provide personalized medicine.

Histologic assessments in ulcerative colitis: the evidence behind a new endpoint in clinical trials

INTRODUCTION

Treatment goals for ulcerative colitis (UC) are evolving from the achievement of clinical remission to more rigorous goals defined by endoscopic and histologic healing. Achievement of deeper remission targets aims to reduce the risk of colectomy, hospitalizations, and colorectal cancer.

AREAS COVERED

This review covers histologic assessments, histologic remission as a clinical trial endpoint, and the association between histologic disease activity and clinical outcomes. Future directions are also discussed, including the use of advanced imaging and artificial intelligence technologies, as well as potential future treatment targets beyond histologic remission.

EXPERT OPINION

Histologic assessments are used for their sensitivity in measuring mucosal inflammatory changes in UC. Due to correlation with disease activity, histologic assessments may support clinical decision-making regarding treatment decisions as such assessments can be associated with rates of clinical relapse, hospitalization, colectomy, and neoplasia. While histologic remission is limited by varying definitions and multiple histologic indices, work is ongoing to create a consensus on the use of histologic assessments in clinical trials. As research advances, aspirational targets beyond histologic remission, such as molecular healing and disease clearance, are being explored.

Emerging strategy towards mucosal healing in inflammatory bowel disease: what the future holds?

For decades, the therapeutic goal of conventional treatment among inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients is alleviating exacerbations in acute phase, maintaining remission, reducing recurrence, preventing complications, and increasing quality of life. However, the persistent mucosal/submucosal inflammation tends to cause irreversible changes in the intestinal structure, which can barely be redressed by conventional treatment. In the late 1990s, monoclonal biologics, mainly anti-TNF (tumor necrosis factor) drugs, were proven significantly helpful in inhibiting mucosal inflammation and improving prognosis in clinical trials. Meanwhile, mucosal healing (MH), as a key endoscopic and histological measurement closely associated with the severity of symptoms, has been proposed as primary outcome measures. With deeper comprehension of the mucosal microenvironment, stem cell niche, and underlying mucosal repair mechanisms, diverse potential strategies apart from monoclonal antibodies have been arising or undergoing clinical trials. Herein, we elucidate key steps or targets during the course of MH and review some promising treatment strategies capable of promoting MH in IBD.