Superior treatment persistence with ustekinumab in Crohn's disease and vedolizumab in ulcerative colitis compared with anti-TNF biological agents: real-world registry data from the Persistence Australian National IBD Cohort (PANIC) study

First-line anti-TNF agents, ustekinumab and vedolizumab perform similarly in Crohn' disease, but not in ulcerative colitis

BACKGROUND

Real-word comparisons between first-line biologicals in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are scarce.

AIMS

The aim of this study is to compare drug persistence and patient reported outcome-2 (PRO-2) remission rates of first-line biological classes [anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) agents vs anti-integrin vedolizumab vs IL-12/23 inhibitor ustekinumab] in real life cohort.

METHODS

Individual level data of 946 adults (588 Crohn's disease and 358 ulcerative colitis) were retrieved from UR-CARE IBD platform. Adjusted drug survival curves using a pooled logistic model and PRO-2 remission rates for each class of biologicals were calculated and compared.

RESULTS

In Crohn's disease, no differences in drug survival were observed for anti-TNF agents vs vedolizumab vs ustekinumab as estimated survival with 95% confidence intervals were 0.81 (0.77-0.84) vs 0.89 (0.82-0.96) vs 0.88 (0.79-0.97) at year 1 and 0.52 (0.46-0.58) vs 0.58 (0.37-0.78) vs 0.58 (0.39-0.77) at year 4. In ulcerative colitis, however, anti-TNF agents had shorter drug survival than vedolizumab with estimated drug survival with 95% confidence intervals 0.60 (0.52-0.67) vs 0.76 (0.67-0.84) at year 1 and 0.37 (0.30-0.44) vs 0.50 (0.36-0.64) at year 4. No differences in PRO-2 remission rates were observed between drug classes in Crohn's disease ( P  = 0.95), but more patients enjoyed PRO-2 remission in ulcerative colitis treated with anti-TNF agents compared to vedolizumab (94.8 vs 78.9%, P  = 0.002).

CONCLUSION

Our real-world data suggest similar drug persistence and efficacy of first-line treatments with anti-TNF agents, vedolizumab and ustekinumab in Crohn's disease. In ulcerative colitis, however, drug persistence was higher for vedolizumab compared to anti-TNF agents, but on the cost of lower PRO-2 remission rates.

Effectiveness and Treatment Persistence of Vedolizumab Compared to Anti-Tumour Necrosis Factor-α in Patients With Crohn's Disease: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

Vedolizumab is approved for the treatment of moderately to severely active Crohn's disease (CD). Real-world evidence is essential for understanding the effectiveness and benefit-risk profile of vedolizumab outside clinical trial settings.

OBJECTIVE

To identify, systematically review and assess the real-world effectiveness and treatment persistence of vedolizumab in patients with CD, particularly over long-term follow-up periods and among populations with differing treatment experience, and to compare with the treatment persistence of anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α treatment.

METHODS

Literature searches were conducted to identify studies published from 2014 to 2022. Relevant congress searches were conducted (2015-2022) using Embase or by hand. Data on adults with CD treated with vedolizumab or anti-TNFα treatment in a real-world setting were extracted for meta-analysis.

RESULTS

Data from 73 studies, including 29,894 patients with CD, reported ≥ 1 outcome of interest for this analysis. Vedolizumab treatment persistence rate was 65.3% (95% confidence interval [CI] 60.2-70.1) at 1 year and 54.8% (95% CI 43.9-65.3) at 2 years. The treatment persistence rate with vedolizumab versus anti-TNFα treatment was 84.6% (95% CI 70.2-92.8) versus 75.3% (95% CI 69.7-80.2) at 1 year and 70.6% (95% CI 60.7-78.8) versus 64.6% (95% CI 56.7-71.8) at 2 years. The mucosal healing rate at 1 year was 40.6% (95% CI 34.2-47.3). Clinical remission rates were 39.4% (95% CI 33.9-45.1) at 1 year and 34.3% (95% CI 18.1-55.2) at 2 years. Corticosteroid-free clinical remission rates were 33.2% (95% CI 28.5-38.3) at 1 year and 20.4% (95% CI 12.5-31.5) at 2 years. All clinical outcome rates were higher in biologic-naive than in biologic-experienced patients.

CONCLUSION

Real-world use of vedolizumab was associated with favourable long-term effectiveness and treatment persistence. Vedolizumab is a suitable first-line biological option for biologic-naive patients with CD.

Nested Randomized Controlled Trials in Large Databases: An Opportunity for Inflammatory Bowel Disease?

INTRODUCTION

Although randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are the gold standard for investigating the efficacy and safety of interventions, they present major operational challenges due to their complexity, time-consuming nature, and costs. To address some of these difficulties, RCTs nested in cohorts (RCTsNC) have been developed. The aim was to review the opportunities and challenges of RCTsNC in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

METHODS

A literature search was conducted using MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane and Clinicaltrials.gov from inception until March 2024 to identify studies focusing on this topic.

RESULTS

RCTsNC is an emerging trial design, which has been successfully utilized across several medical disciplines but not IBD. It enables the use of longer-term longitudinal data for safety and efficacy assessment, and enhanced recruitment and follow up processes. Observational data for IBD, derived from research (cohort and case-control studies) and non-research sources (electronic health records and registries), provides access to comprehensive records for a large number of IBD patients, which could present an opportunity to enhance the performance of RCTsNC. Leveraging pre-existing cohorts and their organizational structures improves patient acceptance and is more economical compared to traditional randomized trials. It may permit researchers to address knowledge gaps in IBD (specific sub-populations, or the effect of environmental exposures on disease course). Limitations of RCTsNC include the risk of selection bias and constraints related to comparisons with placebo.

CONCLUSION

RCTsNC offers a promising opportunity for IBD research and provides an alternative study design given the challenges of conventional trial designs in the current IBD RCT landscape.

Treatment patterns for advanced therapies in Canadians with moderate-to-severe inflammatory bowel disease: a retrospective cohort analysis

Many patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) show an inadequate response or experience a loss of response to advanced therapies. Guidelines recommend dose optimization and switching among therapies until an optimal treatment response is attained. With several advanced treatments available, we aimed to evaluate the persistence of different therapeutic sequences in IBD. The RECORDED study was a retrospective cohort study of Canadians with moderate-to-severely active ulcerative colitis (UC) or Crohn's disease (CD) who had been exposed to more than 1 advanced therapy between May 2015 and April 2021 for UC, and May 2016 and April 2021 for CD. The primary endpoint was time to permanent discontinuation of the first advanced treatment. Overall, 330 patients had CD and 344 had UC. The most common first-line treatments for CD and UC were adalimumab and infliximab, respectively. The median (95% CI) time to permanent discontinuation of first-line treatment was 12.3 (10.9, 13.6) months in patients with CD and 9.2 (8.2, 10.8) months for those with UC. The most common reason for treatment change across both diseases was lack of efficacy. First-line advanced treatments were optimized in 191 (58.1%) CD patients and 202 (59.1%) UC patients prior to permanent discontinuation. Second-line therapy was typically from a different class compared with the first-line treatment choice. The RECORDED study provides insights into the real-world sequencing and optimization patterns of advanced treatments in patients with moderate-to-severe IBD in Canada. Lack of efficacy was the most cited reason for switching to a different therapy.

Comprehensive care of ulcerative colitis: new treatment strategies

INTRODUCTION

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory condition of the colon driven by aberrant immune activation. Although advanced medical therapies form the cornerstone of ulcerative colitis management, unmet needs include failure to induce and sustain remission in a substantial proportion of patients and in managing acute severe ulcerative colitis. We review new treatment strategies that might improve patient outcomes in the management of moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis.

AREAS COVERED

A literature search was conducted using the PubMed database, including studies published from inception to October 2024, selected for their relevance. Recognizing current limitations, this article reviews strategies to improve treatment outcomes in ulcerative colitis using advanced therapies. These approaches include early treatment initiation, dose optimization, positioning newer agents as first-line therapies, combination therapy, targeting novel therapeutic endpoints, and the management of acute severe ulcerative colitis.

EXPERT OPINION

The strategies discussed may contribute to establishing new standards of care aimed at achieving long-term remission and enhancing patient outcomes. Personalized therapy, which tailors treatment based on individual disease characteristics and risk factors, is anticipated to become a critical aspect of delivering more effective care in the future.

Consensus Statements on Assessments and Vaccinations Prior to Commencement of Advanced Therapies for the Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

BACKGROUND

Given the introduction of new advanced therapies for inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), expanded risk mitigation strategies are essential.

AIMS

To create a comprehensive set of statements on assessment procedures and vaccinations before starting monoclonal antibodies, Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors or sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) modulators for IBD.

METHODS

We examined literature, guidelines and drug product information regarding vaccination and assessment recommendations for initiating advanced IBD therapies. Using a modified Delphi approach, delegates voted anonymously on the acceptability of these statements prior to and following consensus discussion.

RESULTS

We developed eight statements on the domains of infectious diseases screening, vaccinations and assessments prior to commencing JAK inhibitors and S1P modulators. Six statements received agreement. Pre-advanced therapy screening for infectious diseases was established, and the vaccination protocol was revised. Malignancy, cardiovascular and thromboembolic risk assessments are necessary before initiating JAK inhibitors. Those starting S1P modulators need cardiac and ophthalmic assessments.

CONCLUSIONS

These consensus statements combine vaccination and assessments on the currently available advanced therapies for IBD as a single comprehensive document that may reduce IBD complications associated with use of advanced therapies. Knowledge gaps identified during the consensus process will provide further research opportunities.

Development and Validation of a Scoring System to Predict 2-Year Clinical Remission in Ulcerative Colitis Patients on Vedolizumab

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Vedolizumab is s gut-selective advanced therapy that is safe and efficacious for the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC). Once patients achieve successful induction, there is a risk of loss of response leading to eventual flare. We aimed to identify these predictive factors and develop a practical scoring system to determine the ongoing efficacy of vedolizumab.

METHODS

We performed logistic regression on prospectively recruited UC subjects from the Vedolizumab Immunomodulator Enforced Withdrawal Study (VIEWS). All patients were in corticosteroid-free clinical remission and endoscopic improvement at baseline and continued vedolizumab. Predictive factors of 2-year corticosteroid-free clinical remission were determined and modeled into the VIEWS score, then validated in a real-world UC cohort.

RESULTS

Of 62 patients in the derivation cohort, 48 (77.4%) maintained clinical remission over two years. The predictive factors of remission were female (odds ratio [OR] 6.0, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2-29.7), antitumor necrosis factor naive (OR 3.8, 95% CI,1.0-14.0), baseline histological remission (OR 10.8, 95% CI, 2.4-48.4), thiopurine combination (OR 3.6, 95% CI, 0.7-18.0), and fecal calprotectin level ≤250 µg/g (OR 6.3, 95% CI, 0.9-42.2). These factors were incorporated into VIEWS score, yielding an area under the receiver-operating characteristic (AUROC) curve of 0.89 (95% CI, 0.81-0.98) in the prediction of 2-year clinical remission. Of 64 UC patients in the validation cohort, 40 (62.5%) remained in clinical remission at 2 years with AUROC of 0.77 (95% CI, 0.60-0.94). At the cut-off threshold of 4, the VIEWS score identified 2-year clinical remission with a sensitivity of 88.4% and specificity of 63.6%.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study determined predictive factors and proposed a scoring system of ongoing clinical remission in UC patients on maintenance vedolizumab. In patients at high risk of relapse, combination therapy with thiopurine may be beneficial.

Superior persistence of ustekinumab compared to anti-TNF in vedolizumab-experienced inflammatory bowel diseases patients: a real-world cohort study

BACKGROUND/AIMS

The increasing use of biologic therapies for moderate to severe inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) highlights the importance of optimal treatment sequencing, particularly after vedolizumab (VDZ) exposure. Studies comparing the effectiveness of ustekinumab (UST) and antitumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) agents post-VDZ are limited.

METHODS

This retrospective study analyzed VDZ-experienced IBD patients treated with UST or anti-TNF (adalimumab and infliximab) from May 2019 to January 2024. We conducted a comparative analysis of the 52-week treatment persistence between UST and anti-TNF therapies, while also identifying independent predictors that influence 52-week persistence.

RESULTS

The study included 110 participants, with 40 diagnosed with ulcerative colitis (UC) and 70 with Crohn's disease (CD). Demographics were comparable across treatment groups. The primary discontinuation reason for VDZ was secondary non-response. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that UST demonstrated superior 52-week persistence in overall IBD, CD and UC patients, compared to anti-TNF. Cox regression analysis also showed UST's superiority in overall IBD (HR: 0.15, 95% CI: 0.05-0.45, p < 0.001), CD (HR: 0.09, 95% CI: 0.01-0.68, p = 0.02), and UC (HR: 0.28, 95% CI: 0.08-0.996, p = 0.049). The independent predictors for 52-week treatment persistence are Crohn's disease (Odds Ratio: 7.151, 95% CI: 1.763-28.995, p = 0.006) and UST treatment (Odds Ratio: 7.912, 95% CI: 1.789-34.992, p = 0.006). Notably, UST required more frequent dosing adjustments than anti-TNF, although both treatments exhibited comparable safety profiles.

CONCLUSIONS

UST demonstrated superior 52-week treatment persistence in IBD patients previously treated with VDZ compared to anti-TNF agents, albeit with a need for more frequent dose adjustments.

Selection of anti-cytokine biologics by pretreatment levels of serum leucine-rich alpha-2 glycoprotein in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Serum leucine-rich alpha-2 glycoprotein (LRG) can monitor disease activities during biologics treatment in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It is unclear whether the pretreatment serum LRG level can predict clinical effectiveness including serum trough levels of ustekinumab in patients with IBD. This multicenter prospective cohort study included 184 patients (Crohn's disease, 104; ulcerative colitis, 80) who received ustekinumab (n = 119) or anti-tumor necrosis factor (n = 65) between January 2019 and March 2023. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed serum LRG level at week 0 (0w-LRG, odds ratio 0.12, 95% confidence interval 0.02-0.68) as one of significant factors for clinical remission at week 8. We divided patients into the low- and the high-LRG groups by the median 0w-LRG (18.2 µg/mL) and compared the effectiveness. In patients who received ustekinumab, the proportion of clinical remission at week 8 was significantly different between in the low- (76.9%) and in the high-LRG group (59.3%, P = 0.038), and median serum trough level at week 8 was significantly different between in the low- (10.9 µg/mL, interquartile range 6.7-13.4) and the high-LRG group (5.3 µg/mL, interquartile range 2.4-8.3, P < 0.001). The 0w-LRG can predict the effectiveness including serum trough levels of ustekinumab during induction treatment for patients with IBD.

Effects of Thiopurine Withdrawal on Vedolizumab-Treated Patients With Ulcerative Colitis: A Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND & AIMS

The impact of thiopurine de-escalation while on vedolizumab versus continuing thiopurine therapy in ulcerative colitis (UC) is unclear. We aimed to determine the effect of thiopurine withdrawal for patients with UC in remission on vedolizumab.

METHODS

This multicenter randomized controlled trial recruited UC patients on vedolizumab 300 mg intravenously every 8 weeks and a thiopurine. Patients in steroid-free clinical remission for ≥6 months and endoscopic remission/improvement (Mayo endoscopic subscore ≤1) were randomized 2:1 to withdraw or continue thiopurine. Primary outcome was comparing week 48 vedolizumab trough concentrations. Secondary outcomes were clinical relapse (partial Mayo score ≥3 and fecal calprotectin >150 μg/g or increase in Mayo endoscopic subscore ≥1 from baseline), fecal calprotectin remission (<150 μg/g), C-reactive protein remission (<5 mg/L), centrally read endoscopic remission (Mayo endoscopic subscore = 0), histologic remission (Nancy index = 0), histo-endoscopic remission, and adverse events.

RESULTS

In total, 62 patients were randomized to continue (n = 20) or withdraw (n = 42) thiopurine. At week 48, vedolizumab trough concentrations were not significantly different between continue and withdrawal groups (14.7 μg/mL, interquartile rate [IQR], 12.3-18.5 μg/mL versus 15.9 μg/mL, IQR, 10.1-22.7 μg/mL, respectively, P = 0.36). The continue group had significantly higher fecal calprotectin remission (95.0%, 19/20 versus 71.4%, 30/42; P = .03), histologic remission (80.0%, 16/20 versus 48.6%, 18/37; P = .02), and histo-endoscopic remission (75.0%, 15/20 versus 32.4%, 12/37; P = .002) than the withdrawal group. Histologic activity (hazard ratio [HR], 15.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.6-146.5; P = .02) and prior anti-tumor necrosis factor exposure (HR, 6.5; 95% CI, 1.3-33.8; P = .03) predicted clinical relapse after thiopurine withdrawal.

CONCLUSIONS

Thiopurine withdrawal did not affect vedolizumab trough concentrations. However, it may increase fecal calprotectin, histologic, and histo-endoscopic activity. Histologic activity and prior anti-tumor necrosis factor exposure may predict disease relapse on thiopurine withdrawal for patients using vedolizumab for UC. Australian and New Zealand Trial Registry, number ACTRN12618000812291.

Real-World Long-Term Persistence and Surgical Procedure-Free Period Among Bio-naïve Patients with Crohn's Disease and Fistula Initiated on Ustekinumab

INTRODUCTION

Fistula is a common complication of Crohn's disease (CD). Treatment with biologics has been associated with fistula healing. Long-term persistence is an important factor for a chronic inflammatory process such as fistula. This study described 24-month persistence and time-to-surgery endpoints among bio-naïve patients with CD and intestinal fistula who were initiated on ustekinumab.

METHODS

Adults with CD and any enteric or perianal fistula initiated on ustekinumab (index date) between September 23, 2016, and March 2, 2022, were selected from the IQVIA PharMetrics® Plus database and followed up to 24 months. Persistence on ustekinumab (no gaps in days of supply of > 120 days) and composite endpoints of being persistent while on monotherapy and persistent while corticosteroid free were also assessed. The date of surgery was defined as the date of first claim for any CD-related surgeries. Persistence and time-to-surgery endpoints were assessed from the index date until the earliest of discontinuation (event), immunomodulator or other biologic use (event), corticosteroid use (event), date of surgery (event), 24-month follow-up or data end (censoring) using Kaplan-Meier analyses.

RESULTS

The sample included 445 patients (mean age: 42.8 years; 56.6% female). The most common type of fistula was anal fistula (36.0%). At 24 months after ustekinumab initiation, 64.2% of patients remained persistent (95% confidence interval [CI] 55.8-71.4). Furthermore, 53.3% of patients were persistent while on monotherapy (95% CI 45.1-60.7), and 45.6% of patients were persistent while being corticosteroid free (95% CI 36.9-53.8). At 24 months, 22.8% (95% CI 17.0-30.3) of patients underwent any CD-related surgery.

CONCLUSION

This study quantified long-term persistence on ustekinumab among bio-naïve patients with CD and fistula. Over half of patients initiated on ustekinumab were persistent and persistent while on monotherapy 24 months after initiation. Time-to-surgery estimate was comparable to existing evidence. These findings support ustekinumab as a treatment option for long-term management of CD with fistula.

Treatment trajectories and outcomes in inflammatory bowel disease: a tertiary single-centre experience

Background

There is an increasing diversification in the treatment landscape for inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) leading to therapeutic challenges that can only incompletely be covered by prospective randomized double-blind trials. Real-world observations are therefore an important tool to provide insights into therapeutic strategies.

Objectives

To describe the real-world treatment algorithms in an IBD referral centre.

Design

Single-centre retrospective cohort study.

Methods

We retrospectively analysed prospectively collected data on treatment sequences and outcomes from 502 patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) treated with infliximab, adalimumab, vedolizumab or ustekinumab at a large German tertiary referral centre.

Results

Treatment decisions correlated to baseline patient characteristics. Over time, infliximab continued to be the preferred first-line option in CD and UC, although ustekinumab and vedolizumab, respectively, became increasingly important choices. Remission rates decreased with the advancement of therapy lines.

Conclusion

We provide insights into the evolution of tertiary centre real-world treatment sequences that might - together with other observations - help to guide the selection of therapies in IBD. Our data also strongly underscore the unmet need for biomarkers supporting treatment decisions.

Trial registration

None.

Comparative real-world outcomes between ustekinumab, infliximab, and adalimumab in bio-naïve and bio-experienced Crohn's disease patients: a retrospective multicenter study

BACKGROUND

Numerous studies have compared the efficacy of ustekinumab (UST) and anti-TNF agents [infliximab (IFX) or adalimumab(ADA)] in moderate to severe Crohn's disease (CD) patients. This study aims to compare the efficacy of UST, IFX, and ADA while differentiating between bio-naïve and bio-experienced patients, which is an underexplored aspect, particularly in Asia.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective multi-center study from 2012 to 2023, categorizing patients into bio-naïve and bio-experienced groups. We evaluated clinical remission rates after induction therapy and clinical outcomes, including CD-related hospitalization, intestinal resection, and drug discontinuation during maintenance therapy.

RESULTS

Among the 214 bio-naïve CD patients, 60 received UST, 108 received IFX, and 46 received ADA. After 1:1 propensity score matching between UST and anti-TNF agents groups, 59 patients were analyzed in each group (45 in the IFX group and 14 in the ADA group). We found no significant differences in clinical remission rates (P = 0.071), CD-related hospitalization (P = 0.800), intestinal resection (P = 0.390), or drug discontinuation (P = 0.052) between the UST, IFX, and ADA groups in bio-naïve CD patients. In bio-experienced CD patients, with 35 in the UST group and 13 in the anti-TNF agents group, the UST group showed a lower risk of drug discontinuation (P = 0.004) than the anti-TNF agents group.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that UST, IFX, and ADA are equally effective in bio-naïve CD patients, while in bio-experienced patients, mostly with previous exposure to anti-TNF agents, UST may offer superior drug durability.

Intravenous Versus Subcutaneous Infliximab in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Subcutaneous [SC] infliximab may provide multiple benefits over intravenous [IV] formulations. However, studies for efficacy and safety in inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] have been constrained by small sizes that limit the interpretation of outcomes, particularly for subgroups potentially at high risk of disease relapse.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic review and random-effects meta-analysis up to January 2023, to evaluate the change in clinical remission after transitioning from IV to SC infliximab in patients with IBD in clinical remission. The primary outcome was measured using the relative risk for meta-analysis.

RESULTS

We identified 15 studies of patients established ≥ 3 months on IV infliximab, consisting of 1371 patients and 840 patient-years of follow-up. There was no loss of clinical remission in the IBD cohort overall, Crohn's disease [CD], or perianal CD [p = 0.55 and p = 0.11 at 9-12 months, and p = 0.50 at 6 months, respectively]. Neither prior IV dose [≤ 10 mg/kg 6-weekly] [p = 0.48] nor IBD disease subtype was associated with an increased clinical relapse rate at 6 months (p = 0.48 and p = 0.45 [UC vs CD], respectively).

CONCLUSION

Changing patients established on IV infliximab to an SC formulation is associated with a high ongoing clinical remission and a low adverse event rate. Furthermore, there are no signals for adverse outcomes among different IBD disease subtypes, nor in those on escalated IV infliximab dosing schedules up to 10 mg/kg 6-weekly. These data should provide patients and clinicians alike with confidence in SC infliximab use in IBD.

Biological Agents in the Treatment of Crohn's Disease: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis From the Prospective Persistence Australian National IBD Cohort (PANIC3) Study

INTRODUCTION

Comparative effectiveness research provides data on the relative benefits and risks between treatments. In Crohn's disease (CD), however, there are few head-to-head studies comparing advanced therapies and none with long-term follow-up. Real-world effectiveness, defined by treatment persistence, obtained from prospective population-based patient cohorts, may help determine the best sequencing and positioning of biological agents.

METHODS

We analyzed the prospectively collected population-based Australian national Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme dispensing data registry (2005-2019) for CD. There is no mandated biological agent prescribing order, and all citizens and permanent residents are eligible for treatment irrespective of insurance status. Propensity score matching was performed to reduce selection bias.

RESULTS

There were 2,029 lines of therapy in 1,446 patients (median age 43 years, interquartile range 34-58, 44% male patients) over the 15-year period with 5,618 patient-years of follow-up. Per line of therapy, 915/2,029 (45.1%) patients used adalimumab, 722/2,029 (35.6%) used infliximab, 155/2,029 (7.6%) used vedolizumab, and 237/2,029 (11.7%) used ustekinumab. When used in biological agent-naive patients, there was no difference in persistence between any agent ( P > 0.05). Used after first line in biological agent-experienced CD, ustekinumab had significantly better persistence than non-ustekinumab biological agents ( P = 0.0018), vs anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha therapy ( P = 0.006) or vedolizumab ( P < 0.001). Ustekinumab persistence was unaffected by prior biological agent exposure ( P = 0.51). After anti-TNF use, ustekinumab had superior persistence to an alternative anti-TNF agent ( P = 0.033) and to vedolizumab ( P = 0.026). Using a propensity score-matched analysis adjusted for age, immunomodulator use, and bio-exposed status, ustekinumab had superior persistence to anti-TNF ( P = 0.01). Multivariate predictors of worse persistence were the use of a non-ustekinumab biological agent (adjusted hazard ratio 2.10, P < 0.001), and bio-experienced status (adjusted hazard ratio 1.23, P < 0.001).

DISCUSSION

This large national prospective database with nonhierarchical prescribing of biological agents did not identify superior persistence of any agent in bio-naive CD. However, for patients with bio-experienced CD, persistence was greater with ustekinumab.

Impact of a Patient Support Program on time to discontinuation of adalimumab in Australian adult patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases-an observational study

This observational study evaluated the impact of a sponsor company-provided Patient Support Program (PSP) on discontinuation of adalimumab in adult Australian patients eligible for Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme (PBS)-reimbursed adalimumab for Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS), Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA), Crohn's Disease (CD), Ulcerative Colitis (UC), or Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS). Patients initiating adalimumab between May 2018 and September 2019 were enrolled into two prospective cohorts based on their decision to opt for or decline the PSP (PSP or non-PSP cohorts). In addition, a historical, retrospective Non-PSP cohort was established from the Services Australia 10% PBS dataset by extracting data of patients initiating adalimumab prior to the introduction of adalimumab PSPs and based on adalimumab PBS listing dates (AS: April 2007 to March 2009; PsA/RA: January 2007 to December 2008; CD: January 2009 to December 2010; HS and UC indications not included). Follow-up for all cohorts was 12 months. The primary endpoint was the time to discontinuation, compared between the prospective PSP cohort and the prospective or retrospective Non-PSP cohort. Inverse probability of treatment weighting was used to balance the cohorts. A Cox proportional hazards model indicated no difference in time to discontinuation between the prospective PSP (n = 162) and non-PSP (n = 65) cohorts (HR [95% CI] = 1.256 [0.616-2.563], p = 0.5304). The 12-month adalimumab persistence rates (95% CI) were 78% (69%, 84%) and 82% (67%, 90%), respectively. In contrast, discontinuation was less likely in the prospective PSP (n = 151) compared with the retrospective non-PSP (n = 297) cohort (HR [95% CI] = 0.44 [0.28-0.68], p<0.001). The 12-month persistence rates (95% CI) were 81% (76%, 90%) and 61% (56%, 67%), respectively. Overall, this study suggests that optimal adalimumab persistence can be achieved with either a structured PSP or healthcare support from other sources, but this was not the case more than a decade ago.

Biologic Therapy for Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Real-World Comparative Effectiveness and Impact of Drug Sequencing in 13 222 Patients within the UK IBD BioResource

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

This study compares the effectiveness of different biologic therapies and sequences in patients with inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] using real-world data from a large cohort with long exposure.

METHODS

Demographic, disease, treatment, and outcome data were retrieved for patients in the UK IBD BioResource. Effectiveness of treatment was based on persistence free of discontinuation or failure, analysed by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis with inverse probability of treatment weighting to adjust for differences between groups.

RESULTS

In total, 13 222 evaluable patients received at least one biologic. In ulcerative colitis [UC] first-line vedolizumab [VDZ] demonstrated superior effectiveness over 5 years compared to anti-tumour necrosis factor [anti-TNF] agents [p = 0.006]. VDZ was superior to both infliximab [IFX] and adalimumab [ADA] after ADA and IFX failure respectively [p < 0.001 and p < 0.001]. Anti-TNF therapy showed similar effectiveness when used as first-line treatment, or after failure of VDZ. In Crohn's disease [CD] we found significant differences between first-line treatments over 10 years [p = 0.045], with superior effectiveness of IFX compared to ADA in perianal CD. Non-anti-TNF biologics were superior to a second anti-TNF after first-line anti-TNF failure in CD [p = 0.035]. Patients with UC or CD experiencing TNF failure due to delayed loss of response or intolerance had superior outcomes when switching to a non-anti-TNF biologic, rather than a second anti-TNF.

CONCLUSIONS

We provide real-world evidence to guide biologic selection and sequencing in a range of common scenarios. Our findings challenge current guidelines regarding drug selection after loss of response to first anti-TNF treatment.

Meta-analysis: Persistence of advanced therapies in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease

BACKGROUND

The expanding options in advanced therapies for ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD) present challenges in treatment selection. Persistence analysis assesses drug durability in real-world settings, acting as a surrogate marker for medication efficacy and tolerance. Unlike traditional comparative studies, persistence analysis provides insights extending beyond the initial year of treatment.

AIM

To provide real-world evidence on treatment effectiveness, tolerability and preferences of physicians and patients regarding various advanced therapies for IBD.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic review of observational studies up to March 2023 assessing advanced therapies' persistence in UC and CD. Advanced therapies under examination included infliximab, adalimumab, vedolizumab, ustekinumab, golimumab, certolizumab and tofacitinib. We pooled the persistence of each agent and conducted a meta-analysis to compare the persistence of newer agents with traditional TNF inhibitors (TNFi)-specifically infliximab and adalimumab.

RESULTS

Among 63 observational studies, vedolizumab had the highest 1-year persistence in UC (73.8%, 95% CI: 70.0%-77.6%) and ustekinumab in CD (77.5%, 95% CI: 72.9%-82.1%). Compared to TNFi, vedolizumab demonstrated increased persistence with a relative risk (RR) of 1.30 (95% CI: 1.19-1.41) for UC and 1.14 (95% CI: 1.09-1.20) for CD at 1 year, while ustekinumab demonstrated a RR of 1.15 (95% CI: 1.07-1.23) for CD at 1 year. Vedolizumab exhibited sustained increased persistence in UC over 2 years compared to TNFi (RR: 1.33, 95% CI 1.14-1.54).

CONCLUSION

This meta-analysis highlights the superior persistence of ustekinumab and vedolizumab over TNFi, and offers valuable insights for clinicians navigating the challenging landscape of UC and CD therapeutic choices.

Gut microbiota and metabolites as predictors of biologics response in inflammatory bowel disease: A comprehensive systematic review

Nonresponse to biologic agents in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) poses a significant public health burden, and the prediction of response to biologics offers valuable insights for IBD management. Given the pivotal role of gut microbiota and their endogenous metabolites in IBD, we conducted a systematic review to investigate the potential of fecal microbiota and mucosal microbiota and endogenous metabolomic markers as predictors for biotherapy response in IBD patients. A total of 38 studies were included in the review. Following anti-TNF-α treatment, the bacterial community characteristics of IBD patients exhibited a tendency to resemble those observed in healthy controls, indicating an improved clinical response. The levels of endogenous metabolites butyrate and deoxycholic acid were significantly associated with clinical remission following anti-TNF-α therapy. IBD patients who responded well to vedolizumab treatment had higher levels of specific bacteria that produce butyrate, along with increased levels of metabolites such as butyrate, branched-chain amino acids and acetamide following vedolizumab treatment. Crohn's disease patients who responded positively to ustekinumab treatment showed higher levels of Faecalibacterium and lower levels of Escherichia/Shigella. In conclusion, fecal microbiota and mucosal microbiota as well as their endogenous metabolites could provide a predictive tool for assessing the response of IBD patients to various biological agents and serve as a valuable reference for precise drug selection in clinical IBD patients.

Ustekinumab as induction and maintenance therapy for ulcerative colitis - national extended follow-up and a review of the literature

INTRODUCTION

Ustekinumab use in ulcerative colitis had shown low adverse event and high persistence rates to 3 years via the UNIFI long-term extension study. Outcomes beyond 3 years have not been previously described. We describe the safety signals of the entire UNIFI Australian population beyond 3 years.

METHODS

This retrospective multicenter observational cohort study recruited from all Australian UNIFI centers. The primary outcome was safety via adverse events. Secondary outcomes included the clinical relapse rate on ustekinumab, and the need to switch from ustekinumab to an alternate agent.

RESULTS

There were 14 patients [11 male, mean age 47 (±14) years], with a median diagnosis of 10.8 (±4.5) years prior to UNIFI enrollment. Median follow-up was 298 weeks (5.7 years) (Interquartile range (IQR): 220-311 weeks). Within the long-term extension, there were three serious adverse events and one minor event. 42.9% (6/14) patients had clinical relapses, of which clinical remission was recaptured in 83.3% (5/6). 85.7% (12/14) persisted on ustekinumab in the long-term, with 7.1% (1/14) electively ceasing ustekinumab and 7.1% (1/14) changed from ustekinumab due to clinical relapse.

CONCLUSION

For moderate-to-severe UC in Australia, ustekinumab maintained efficacy beyond 3 years with a high persistence rate and no new safety signals.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

The trial is registered at ANZCTR (identifier: ACTRN12622001332718).

Comparing the Effects of Anti-TNF Agent and Ustekinumab on Small Bowel Inflammation in Crohn's Disease: Inverse Probability Weighting With Stabilized Weights of Propensity Scores

Background

Endoscopic mucosal healing serves as a critical predictor for achieving long-term remission in Crohn's disease treatment. Recent data indicate that the effectiveness of healing varies based on the location of gastrointestinal inflammation. Additionally, reports suggest that antitumor necrosis factor-α (anti-TNF-α) agents exhibit reduced efficacy in treating small intestinal inflammation compared to colorectal inflammation. Conversely, limited research exists regarding the impact of the anti-IL12/23 agent ustekinumab (UST) on small intestinal inflammation. This study aimed to compare the effects of anti-TNF-α agents and UST on small intestinal inflammation using propensity score analysis.

Methods

This retrospective observational study involved 70 patients with Crohn's disease who had inflammation in the small intestine and had initiated treatment with either anti-TNF agents or UST between March 2015 and August 2021. Endoscopic findings were evaluated before treatment commencement and at 1-2 years post-treatment initiation. The propensity score was employed to compare the efficacy of TNF agents and UST on small bowel inflammation.

Results

Ustekinumab exhibited greater improvement in the small intestinal endoscopy score than anti-TNF-α antibodies according to the propensity score analysis (inverse probability weighting; P = .0448). However, no significant disparity was observed in the overall improvement of endoscopic scores between UST and anti-TNF-α antibodies (P = .5938).

Conclusions

This study suggests that UST might be more effective than anti-TNF-α agents in treating small intestinal inflammation in Crohn's disease.

Selection strategy of second-line biologic therapies in adult patients with ulcerative colitis following prior biologic treatment failure: Systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Optimizing second-line biologic therapies for adult ulcerative colitis (UC) post first-line failure is essential.

OBJECTIVE

Compare second-line biologic therapy efficacy in adult UC patients with prior treatment failure.

METHODS

A comprehensive search of electronic databases up to May 2023 was conducted to assess second-line biologic therapy efficacy using a random effects model. Parameters analyzed included clinical remission rate, clinical response rate, mucosal healing rate, annual discontinuation rate, and colectomy rates.

RESULTS

Forty-three research papers were analyzed. Clinical remission rates for second-line biologics were ranked at 6-14 weeks: Infliximab (30%) was followed by Vedolizumab (29%), Ustekinumab (27%), and Adalimumab (19%). At 52-54 weeks, the order shifted, with Vedolizumab (35%) followed by Infliximab (32%), Ustekinumab (31%), and Adalimumab (26%). The mucosal healing rate was 21%, ranked as: Infliximab (31%), Vedolizumab (21%), Adalimumab (21%), and Ustekinumab (14%). The annual discontinuation rate stood at 20%, with Adalimumab (25%), Vedolizumab (18%), Infliximab (17%), and Ustekinumab (16%). Discontinuation rates due to primary failure (PF), secondary failure (SF), and adverse events (AE) were 6%, 12%, and 3%, respectively. The annual colectomy rate was 9%, with Adalimumab (15%) followed by Vedolizumab (10%), Ustekinumab (9%), and Infliximab (5%), and colectomy rates of 10% due to PF, 12% due to SF, and 4% due to AE.

CONCLUSION

For UC patients with first-line treatment failure, it is recommended to prioritize infliximab or vedolizumab as second-line biologic therapies, while avoiding adalimumab as the primary choice. Further clinical trials are necessary to assess ustekinumab efficacy accurately.

Effectiveness and safety of vedolizumab and infliximab in biologic-naive patients with Crohn's disease: results from the EVOLVE study

OBJECTIVES

This study compared the real-world effectiveness and safety of α 4 β 7 -integrin inhibitor vedolizumab and anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha (anti-TNFα) inhibitor infliximab in biologic-naive patients with Crohn's disease (CD).

METHODS

EVOLVE was a retrospective, multicenter, medical chart review of biologic-naive adults with inflammatory bowel disease receiving vedolizumab or anti-TNFα treatment as first-line biologics in Canada, Greece, and the USA. Twelve-month outcomes were analyzed in vedolizumab- or infliximab-treated patients with moderate-to-severe CD (and subgroups with complicated and noncomplicated CD) including cumulative rates of clinical response, clinical remission, and mucosal healing, and incidence rates of serious adverse events (SAEs) and serious infections (SIs). Inverse probability weighting (IPW) was used to account for baseline differences between treatment groups.

RESULTS

Data were analyzed from 167 patients. In the IPW dataset (99 vedolizumab-treated and 63 infliximab-treated), adjusted 12-month clinical remission rates were 73.1% and 55.2%, respectively ( P  = 0.31). Overall, effectiveness rates were similar across treatment and complicated/noncomplicated disease subgroups. Adjusted 12-month incidence rates (first occurrence/1000 person-years) of SAEs for vedolizumab vs. infliximab: 43.6 vs. 200.9 [hazard ratio (HR) 0.36 (0.09-1.54)]; SIs: 10.8 vs. 96.0 [HR 0.08 (<0.01-2.64)]. AE incidence was significantly lower in vedolizumab- vs. infliximab-treated patients for complicated [131.6 vs. 732.2; HR 0.19 (0.05-0.65)] and noncomplicated [276.3 vs. 494.8; HR 0.59 (0.35-0.99)] disease subgroups.

CONCLUSION

These real-world data on first-line biologics show no differences in 12-month effectiveness outcomes for vedolizumab- vs. infliximab-treated biologic-naive patients with CD. Vedolizumab may have a more favorable safety profile vs. infliximab in patients with complicated and noncomplicated disease.

Comparing clinical trial population representativeness to real-world users of 17 biologics approved for immune-mediated inflammatory diseases: An external validity analysis of 66,639 biologic users from the Italian VALORE project

To date, no population-based studies have specifically explored the external validity of pivotal randomized clinical trials (RCTs) of biologics simultaneously for a broad spectrum of immuno-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs). The aims of this study were, firstly, to compare the patients' characteristics and median treatment duration of biologics approved for IMIDs between RCTs' and real-world setting (RW); secondly, to assess the extent of biologic users treated for IMIDs in the real-world setting that would not have been eligible for inclusion into pivotal RCT for each indication of use. Using the Italian VALORE distributed database (66,639 incident biologic users), adult patients with IMIDs treated with biologics in the Italian real-world setting were substantially older (mean age ± SD: 50 ± 15 years) compared to those enrolled in pivotal RCTs (45 ± 15 years). In the real-world setting, certolizumab pegol was more commonly used by adult women with psoriasis/ankylosing spondylitis (F/M ratio: 1.8-1.9) compared to RCTs (F/M ratio: 0.5-0.6). The median treatment duration (weeks) of incident biologic users in RW was significantly higher than the duration of pivotal RCTs in almost all indications for use and most biologics (4-100 vs. 6-167). Furthermore, almost half (46.4%) of biologic users from RW settings would have been ineligible for inclusion in the respective indication-specific pivotal RCTs. The main reasons were: advanced age, recent history of cancer and presence of other concomitant IMIDs. These findings suggest that post-marketing surveillance of biologics should be prioritized for those patients.

Comparative Study of the Effectiveness of Vedolizumab Versus Ustekinumab After Anti-TNF Failure in Crohn's Disease (Versus-CD): Data from the ENEIDA Registry

BACKGROUND

Both vedolizumab and ustekinumab are approved for the management of Crohn's disease [CD]. Data on which one would be the most beneficial option when anti-tumour necrosis factor [anti-TNF] agents fail are limited.

AIMS

To compare the durability, effectiveness, and safety of vedolizumab and ustekinumab after anti-TNF failure or intolerance in CD.

METHODS

CD patients from the ENEIDA registry who received vedolizumab or ustekinumab after anti-TNF failure or intolerance were included. Durability and effectiveness were evaluated in both the short and the long term. Effectiveness was defined according to the Harvey-Bradshaw index [HBI]. The safety profile was compared between the two treatments. The propensity score was calculated by the inverse probability weighting method to balance confounder factors.

RESULTS

A total of 835 patients from 30 centres were included, 207 treated with vedolizumab and 628 with ustekinumab. Dose intensification was performed in 295 patients. Vedolizumab [vs ustekinumab] was associated with a higher risk of treatment discontinuation (hazard ratio [HR] 2.55, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.02-3.21), adjusted by corticosteroids at baseline [HR 1.27; 95% CI: 1.00-1.62], moderate-severe activity in HBI [HR 1.79; 95% CI: 1.20-2.48], and high levels of C-reactive protein at baseline [HR 1.06; 95% CI: 1.02-1.10]. The inverse probability weighting method confirmed these results. Clinical response, remission, and corticosteroid-free clinical remission were higher with ustekinumab than with vedolizumab. Both drugs had a low risk of adverse events with no differences between them.

CONCLUSION

In CD patients who have failed anti-TNF agents, ustekinumab seems to be superior to vedolizumab in terms of durability and effectiveness in clinical practice. The safety profile is good and similar for both treatments.

Comparative Persistence of Non-tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) vs. TNF Antagonists for Post-operative Prophylaxis in Crohn's Disease (CD)

BACKGROUND

The comparative safety and effectiveness of available biologics for post-operative prophylaxis in Crohn's disease (CD) is uncertain. Drug persistence may serve as a real-world proxy for tolerability and effectiveness. We evaluated the comparative persistence of non-TNF and TNF antagonists for post-operative prophylaxis and their comparative effectiveness for preventing early endoscopic post-operative recurrence (POR).

METHODS

We conducted a single-center, retrospective study of surgically naïve CD subjects undergoing ileocecal or small bowel resection between 1/1/2000 and 12/31/2021 and prescribed a biologic for post-operative prophylaxis. We compared the risk of prophylaxis failure (requiring recurrent surgery or discontinuation of therapy due to persistent POR despite optimized drug level or dose escalation, immunogenicity, and/or adverse event) and early endoscopic POR (Rutgeert's score ≥ i2 within 15 months postoperatively) between non-TNF and TNF antagonist prophylaxis using Cox proportional hazard and logistic regression, respectively, adjusting for demographic and disease characteristics.

RESULTS

The study included 291 subjects (81% TNF antagonists). After multivariable adjustment, non-TNF antagonist prophylaxis was associated with a significantly lower risk of prophylaxis failure than TNF antagonists (hazard ratio 0.26; 95% confidence interval (CI) [0.13-0.53]). Prophylaxis with non-TNF and TNF antagonists had similar risk of early endoscopic POR (odds ratio 0.66; 95% CI [0.32-1.36]). Stratifying the non-TNF antagonists by anti-integrin and anti-IL12/23 yielded similar results.

CONCLUSION

In a cohort of surgically naïve CD subjects prescribed a biologic for post-operative prophylaxis, non-TNF antagonists had greater persistence than TNF antagonists with similar risk for early endoscopic POR. If confirmed by large, prospective studies, these findings can inform post-operative management strategies in CD.

Real-world treatment persistence of four commonly prescribed biologic therapies for moderate to severe psoriasis in Australia

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Australian data comparing biologic treatments for moderate to severe chronic plaque psoriasis are lacking. We compared persistence on therapy across four biologic therapies (adalimumab, guselkumab, secukinumab and ustekinumab) used to treat chronic plaque psoriasis. The impact of prior biologic use on persistence was also investigated.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort analysis of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) 10% sample included data from adult patients prescribed ≥1 biologic of interest by a dermatologist from 1 September 2015 to 31 December 2021. Persistence was defined as continued use until 180 days without a prescription. The index date was the date of the first claim of the biologic. Persistence was evaluated using Kaplan-Meier methods, log-rank tests, adjusted analyses using Cox's regressions, and propensity score matching.

RESULTS

In total, 878 patients, with 1131 index prescriptions, were included. Guselkumab median persistence was not reached in the study period (PBS listed from February 2019). In the adjusted analysis, persistence to guselkumab was significantly greater than to adalimumab (n = 105; median 16 months, HR 2.71 (95% CI 1.94-3.8), p < 0.001), ustekinumab (n = 336; median 19 months, HR 2.91 (95% CI 2.22-3.82), p < 0.001) and secukinumab (n = 305; median 30 months, HR 1.8 (95% CI 1.36-2.38), p < 0.001). Bio-naïve patients had longer persistence on treatment than bio-experienced patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The nationally representative PBS dataset can provide real-world insights into the persistence on biologic therapies for psoriasis in Australia, where eligibility criteria for reimbursed treatment are stringent. Persistence is an indirect marker of sustained treatment effectiveness and tolerability. Both unadjusted and adjusted analyses found longer persistence for guselkumab compared to adalimumab, secukinumab or ustekinumab.

Association of Antibiotic Use with Durability of Biologic Agents in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: a Report from the epi-IIRN

BACKGROUND

Different antibiotic classes were reported to have variable effects on immunogenicity towards anti-tumour necrosis factor [TNF] agents. However, the impact of antibiotic administration on biologic treatment durability was not investigated. We aimed to assess the association between antibiotic treatment and persistence of different classes of biologic therapy in inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] patients.

METHODS

Data from the epi-IIRN, a nationwide registry of all Israeli IBD patients were analysed. All patients who filled a prescription of either infliximab, adalimumab, vedolizumab, or ustekinumab, were included. Treatment cessation was defined as drug discontinuation of at least 6 months. Macrolides, cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones, and penicillins with beta-lactamase inhibitors were selected as primary exposure variables. Survival analysis was performed using marginal structural models for each drug separately.

RESULTS

In all 13 513 IBD patients, with a total of 39 600 patient-years, were included. Significant differences of overall treatment persistence were demonstrated, with highest persistence rates for ustekinumab and the lowest for infliximab treatment. Macrolides were found to be significantly associated with reduced risk of infliximab cessation (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 0.72, 95% CI 0.62-0.89]. Fluoroquinolones and cephalosporins were associated with an elevated risk of adalimumab treatment cessation [aHR 1.33, 95% CI 1.22-1.46; and aHR 1.20, 95% CI 1.08-1.34, respectively]. No significant effects of the studied antibiotics were observed in ustekinumab and vedolizumab users.

CONCLUSIONS

Specific antibiotic classes are associated with duration of anti-TNF treatment, but not with durability of vedolizumab or ustekinumab treatments. Further research is required to study the effect of specific antibiotics on response to biologics.

Real-World Persistence of Ustekinumab in the Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

INTRODUCTION

There is an urgent need to understand the long-term real-world effectiveness of ustekinumab (UST) in the treatment of Crohn's disease (CD), fistulizing CD (FCD), and ulcerative colitis (UC). Persistence on treatment is commonly used as a surrogate measure of real-world treatment response. This study aims to estimate the long-term real-world persistence of UST in adult patients with CD, FCD, and UC.

METHODS

A retrospective study was conducted in patients with CD, FCD, and UC treated with UST through a national patient support program in Canada. Treatment persistence was described using the Kaplan-Meier method, and the impact of patient characteristics on persistence was explored through stratified analyses and multivariable Cox proportional hazards models.

RESULTS

Persistence rates for 8724 patients with CD were 82.9%, 71.4%, 64.1%, and 59.7% at 1, 2, 3, and 4 years, respectively. Similarly, persistence rates for 276 patients with FCD were 84.1%, 70.9%, 64.9%, and 63.1% at 1, 2, 3, and 4 years, respectively. Persistence rates for 1291 patients with UC were 76.5% at 1 year and 69.5% at 1.5 years. When stratified by prior IBD-indicated biologic experience, persistence was numerically higher in biologic-naïve patients across all disease cohorts. A Cox proportional hazards model confirmed that this difference was significant in patients with CD (hazard ratio: 0.72; confidence interval: [0.65-0.79]).

CONCLUSIONS

This study estimated long-term persistence in a large population of patients with IBD. At 1 year, over three-fourths of patients remained on UST treatment in all disease cohorts, and over half of patients remained on treatment at 4 years in CD and FCD patients. Biologic-naïve status was significantly associated with higher persistence in patients with CD.

Early Ileocecal Resection for Crohn's Disease Is Associated With Improved Long-term Outcomes Compared With Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor Therapy: A Population-Based Cohort Study

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Early Crohn's disease (CD) treatment involves anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) agents, whereas ileocecal resection (ICR) is reserved for complicated CD or treatment failure. We compared long-term outcomes of primary ICR and anti-TNF therapy for ileocecal CD.

METHODS

Using cross-linked nationwide registers, we identified all individuals diagnosed with ileal or ileocecal CD between 2003 and 2018 and treated with ICR or anti-TNF agents within 1 year of diagnosis. The primary outcome was a composite of ≥1 of the following: CD-related hospitalization, systemic corticosteroid exposure, CD-related surgery, and perianal CD. We conducted adjusted Cox's proportional hazards regression analyses and determined the cumulative risk of different treatments after primary ICR or anti-TNF therapy.

RESULTS

Of 16,443 individuals diagnosed with CD, 1279 individuals fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Of these, 45.4% underwent ICR and 54.6% received anti-TNF. The composite outcome occurred in 273 individuals (incidence rate, 110/1000 person-years) in the ICR group and in 318 individuals (incidence rate, 202/1000 person-years) in the anti-TNF group. The risk of the composite outcome was 33% lower with ICR compared with anti-TNF (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.67; 95% confidence interval, 0.54-0.83). ICR was associated with reduced risk of systemic corticosteroid exposure and CD-related surgery, but not other secondary outcomes. The proportion of individuals on immunomodulator, anti-TNF, who underwent subsequent resection, or were on no therapy 5 years post-ICR was 46.3%, 16.8%, 1.8%, and 49.7%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

These data suggest that ICR may have a role as first-line therapy in CD management and challenge the current paradigm of reserving surgery for complicated CD refractory or intolerant to medications. Yet, given inherent biases associated with observational data, our findings should be interpreted and applied cautiously in clinical decision making.

10 years of biologic use patterns in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: treatment persistence, switching and dose intensification - a nationwide population-based study

Background

Treatments for inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) have evolved in the era of biologics. However, the real-world data on their usage patterns and sequencing are still limited.

Objectives

We aimed to investigate treatment persistence and dose intensification of first- and second-line biologics in patients with IBD.

Design

In this retrospective, cohort study using nationwide claims data, 13,087 patients with IBD initiating biologic therapy between 2010 and 2020 were identified.

Methods

Treatment persistence and dose intensification during the first 2 years and switching patterns of biologics were analysed while identifying predictors of non-persistence.

Results

As a first-line treatment of Crohn's disease (CD), ustekinumab had a lower risk for non-persistence compared to infliximab [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR), 0.69, p = 0.048]. Second-line ustekinumab and vedolizumab showed the highest and lowest persistence (79.2% and 54.9%), respectively. As a first-line treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC), golimumab had a higher risk for non-persistence compared to infliximab (aHR, 1.68, p < 0.001). Second-line golimumab also showed a significantly lower persistence rate than adalimumab and vedolizumab. The risk of non-persistence was higher in UC than in CD (first line: aHR, 1.97; second line: aHR, 1.39; p < 0.001), and in the second-line treatment than in the first-line treatment for CD (aHR, 1.55; p < 0.001). The cumulative rate of dose intensification was highest with ustekinumab for CD (first line, 43.3%, second line, 69.1%) and adalimumab for second-line UC (40.7%). It was significantly increased in second-line therapy in CD, but not in UC. Among switchers of first-line anti-tumour necrosis factor-α inhibitor therapy, after all biologics were approved, 69% of CD patients and 78.4% of UC patients switched to other classes of second-line treatment.

Conclusion

Ustekinumab had higher persistence in the first-line treatment of CD, while golimumab had lower persistence for first- and second-line treatments of UC. Dose intensification rates varied, with the highest cumulative rates observed for ustekinumab in CD and adalimumab in second-line UC.

Long-term persistence and other treatment patterns among bio-naïve patients with Crohn's disease treated with ustekinumab or adalimumab

OBJECTIVE

To estimate long-term persistence among bio-naïve patients with CD initiated on ustekinumab or adalimumab.

METHODS

Adults with CD initiating ustekinumab or adalimumab (index date, between September 23, 2016 and August 1, 2019) were sampled from the IBM MarketScan Commercial Database. Patients without CD-indicated biologics (bio-naïve) and with no diagnoses for other autoimmune diseases 12 months pre-index date (baseline) were included. Cohorts were balanced on baseline characteristics with inverse probability of treatment weighting. Persistence was defined as the absence of therapy exposure gaps >120 days (ustekinumab) or >60 (adalimumab) between days of supply. Composite endpoints were persistence and being corticosteroid-free (no corticosteroids >14 days of supply after day 90 post-index) and persistence while on monotherapy (no immunomodulators/non-index biologics). Persistence was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier and Cox's models.

RESULTS

Ustekinumab and adalimumab cohorts included 671 and 2,975 patients. At 12 months post-index, ustekinumab patients were significantly more persistent (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.60; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.33-1.93), persistent while on monotherapy (HR = 1.43; 95% CI = 1.24-1.65), and trended toward being more persistent and corticosteroid-free (HR = 1.14; 95% CI = 0.99-1.30) vs adalimumab. At 24 months post-index, ustekinumab patients were significantly more persistent (HR = 1.66; 95% CI = 1.40-1.97), persistent while on monotherapy (HR = 1.44; 95% CI = 1.26-1.64), and persistent and corticosteroid-free (HR = 1.15; 95% CI = 1.01-1.31) vs adalimumab.

CONCLUSIONS

Bio-naïve patients with CD initiated on ustekinumab demonstrated significantly more persistence than patients initiated on adalimumab at 12 and 24 months of treatment. Long-term persistence is a measure of a drug's real-world performance and findings may aid clinical decision-making.

Comparative Safety and Effectiveness of Biologic Therapy for Crohn's Disease: A CA-IBD Cohort Study

BACKGROUND & AIMS

We compared the safety and effectiveness of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) antagonists vs vedolizumab vs ustekinumab in patients with Crohn's disease (CD) in a multicenter cohort (CA-IBD).

METHODS

We created an electronic health record-based cohort of adult patients with CD who were initiating a new biologic agent (TNF-α antagonists, ustekinumab, vedolizumab) from 5 health systems in California between 2010 and 2017. We compared the risk of serious infections (safety) and all-cause hospitalization and inflammatory bowel disease-related surgery (effectiveness) between different biologic classes using propensity score (PS) matching.

RESULTS

As compared with TNF-α antagonists (n = 1030), 2:1 PS-matched, ustekinumab-treated patients with CD (n = 515) experienced a lower risk of serious infections (hazard ratio [HR], 0.36; 95% CI, 0.20-0.64), without any difference in the risk of hospitalization (HR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.89-1.21) or surgery (HR, 1.08; 95% CI, 0.69-1.70). Compared with vedolizumab (n = 221), 1:1 PS-matched, ustekinumab-treated patients with CD (n = 221) experienced a lower risk of serious infections (HR, 0.20; 95% CI, 0.07-0.60), without significant differences in risk of hospitalization (HR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.54-1.07) or surgery (HR, 1.42; 95% CI, 0.54-3.72). Compared with TNF-α antagonists (n = 442), 2:1 PS-matched, vedolizumab-treated patients with CD (n = 221) had a similar risk of serious infections (HR, 1.53; 95% CI, 0.84-2.78), hospitalization (HR, 1.32; 95% CI, 0.98-1.77), and surgery (HR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.27-1.47). High comorbidity burden, concomitant opiate use, and prior hospitalization were associated with serious infections and hospitalization in biologic-treated patients with CD.

CONCLUSION

In a multicenter cohort of biologic-treated patients with CD, ustekinumab was associated with a lower risk of serious infections compared with TNF-α antagonists and vedolizumab, without any differences in risk of hospitalization or surgery. The risk of serious infections was similar for TNF-α antagonists vs vedolizumab.

Persistence Among Patients with Crohn Disease Previously Treated with an Anti-tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitor and Switching or Cycling to Another Biologic Agent

PURPOSE

Nonresponse to an anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) agent in patients with Crohn disease (CD) is often managed by either a switch to a different class of biologic (ie, ustekinumab, vedolizumab) or by cycling to another anti-TNF agent (ie, adalimumab, infliximab, certolizumab pegol). Persistence after a switch to a different biologic class or after cycling within the anti-TNF class was assessed in patients with nonresponse to an anti-TNF agent.

METHODS

Adults with CD who discontinued from an anti-TNF agent and either switched to a different class of biologic (ie, anti-interleukin/integrin; the switching cohort) or cycled within the anti-TNF class (the cycling cohort) between September 23, 2016, and August 1, 2019, were selected from a commercial database. The index date was defined as the date of the first claim of the subsequent-line biologic (index biologic) after an anti-TNF. The switching and cycling cohorts were balanced with regard to baseline characteristics, using inverse probability of treatment weights-average treatment effect (IPTW-ATE). Persistence with the index biologic was defined as consistent use with no gaps of >120 days (ustekinumab, vedolizumab, infliximab) or of >60 days (adalimumab, certolizumab pegol) in biologic supply. Composite end points were persistence while being corticosteroid-free (defined as no use of corticosteroids with ≥14 days of supply after day 90 post-index) and persistence while on monotherapy (no immunomodulators/nonindex biologics). Weighted Kaplan-Meier and Cox models were used to assess outcomes at 12 months post-index.

FINDINGS

There were 444 patients in the weighted switching cohort (mean age, 40.4 years; 56.3% female) and 441 in the weighted cycling cohort (mean age, 39.5 years; 58.4% female). At 12 months post-index, the rate of persistence with the index biologic was 75.7% in the switching cohort compared to 67.5% in the cycling cohort (log-rank P = 0.023); the rate of persistence while on monotherapy was 58.2% compared to 44.2%, respectively (log-rank P < 0.001). The rate of persistence was 44% greater in the switching compared to that in the cycling cohort (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.44; 95% CI, 1.11-1.88; P = 0.007); the rate of persistence while on monotherapy was 56% greater in the switching cohort (HR = 1.56; 95% CI, 1.28-1.90; P < 0.001). The between-cohort difference in persistence while being corticosteroid-free was not statistically significant (HR = 1.08; 95% CI, 0.89-1.32; P = 0.426).

IMPLICATIONS

Patients with CD who switched to a different biologic class were more persistent than were patients who cycled to another anti-TNF agent. These findings may be useful for physicians when considering the treatment of patients who have experienced nonresponse or loss of response to the first-line anti-TNF agent.

Use of real-world data to assess the effectiveness of ustekinumab in treating IBD patients: a retrospective linked database study in northwest London

BACKGROUND

Data on the optimum positioning of biologics in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are limited.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

This was a longitudinal retrospective study of linked health-care data from northwest London, UK, for adults who started ustekinumab for IBD from 1 April 20161 April 2016 to 1 April 20211 April 2021. We compared outcomes by line of therapy (1 vs. 2 or 3+) and age group (18‒59 years or ≥ 60 years). In an analysis of CD patients, we calculated risks of IBD-related hospitalization, IBD-related abdominal surgery, ustekinumab persistence, and switching by line of therapy.

RESULTS

Of 163 patients screened, 149 were eligible. Age had no effect on outcomes. Elective all-cause hospital admissions were significantly higher when ustekinumab was used as second-line or third-line therapy compared with first-line treatment (p = 0.0048 and p = 0.001, respectively). In CD patients the numbers of hospital admissions were also higher with second-line or third-line therapy (p = 0.040 and p = 0.018, respectively). Use of ustekinumab as third-line therapy significantly increased the risk of IBD-related hospitalization (hazard ratio 2.5, 95% CI 1.1‒5.6, p = 0.029), IBD-related abdominal surgery (9.45, 1.2‒75.7, p = 0.03), and switching (14.6, 1.6‒131.0, p = 0.02). Drug persistence risks did not differ.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings support the use of ustekinumab as first-line therapy.

Comparative Effectiveness of Ustekinumab and Anti-TNF Agent as First-Line Biological Therapy in Luminal Crohn's Disease: A Retrospective Study From 2 Referral Centers

BACKGROUND

Real-life data on the efficacy of ustekinumab as first-line therapy for the treatment of luminal Crohn's disease (CD) compared with anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) agents are lacking. We compared the clinical response rates at 3 months in 2 cohorts of biologic-naïve patients treated by ustekinumab and anti-TNF agents.

METHODS

Biologic-naïve patients starting either ustekinumab or an anti-TNF agent for luminal CD between 2016 and 2019 in 2 tertiary centers were retrospectively included. The primary endpoint was clinical response at 3 months, defined as a Harvey-Bradshaw Index <4 or a 3-point drop in the score without steroids, need for CD-related surgery, or treatment discontinuation owing to failure or intolerance. Patients treated with ustekinumab were matched to patients receiving anti-TNF agents by a propensity score algorithm.

RESULTS

We included 156 patients starting anti-TNF agents (95 adalimumab and 61 infliximab) and 50 ustekinumab. After matching, clinical response rates at 3 months were 64% and 86% in the ustekinumab and anti-TNF groups, respectively (P = .01). At 12 months, in multivariate analysis adjusted for disease duration, location, concomitant immunosuppressant and steroids, and symptoms, clinical remission was independently associated with the biological therapy received (odds ratio, 2.6 for anti-TNF agent vs ustekinumab; P = .02). With a median follow-up duration of 40 (interquartile range, 23-52) months, no difference was observed in terms of time to drug withdrawal (P = .29) or safety.

CONCLUSIONS

This retrospective real-world data suggest that an anti-TNF agent as a first-line biological therapy is associated with higher rates of response at 3 months than ustekinumab in patients with CD.

Comparison of the Persistence of Anti-TNF Agents and Ustekinumab in Patients with Crohn’s Disease: A Study Based on the Korean National Database

Background: Biologics play an important role in the treatment of moderate to severe Crohn’s disease (CD). Ustekinumab was approved for such patients in the Republic of Korea on 1 December 2018. Therefore, we need to compare the efficacy of ustekinumab and anti-TNF inhibitors. Methods: We compared one-year persistence rates between anti-TNF inhibitors and ustekinumab in moderate-to-severe CD patients using Korean National Health Insurance Service data from 1 December 2016 to 30 November 2021. We also analysed the risk factors for the non-persistence of biologics. Results: The one-year persistence rates with index therapy in bio-naïve and bio-experienced patients were 87.7% and 69.7% for infliximab (p < 0.001), 85.1% and 72.8% for adalimumab (p < 0.001), and 92.1% and 89.8% for ustekinumab (p = 0.333), respectively. The risk factors for non-persistence were older age, non-use of an immune modulator, and previous biologic exposure in both the infliximab and adalimumab groups. The one-year persistence rate of ustekinumab was higher than that of anti-TNF inhibitors in bio-naïve patients (hazard ratio [HR] 0.53; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.35–0.81; p = 0.003) and bio-experienced patients (HR 0.32; 95% CI 0.22–0.45; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Ustekinumab was superior in bio-naïve CD patients compared to anti-TNF inhibitors. However, the follow-up time was relatively short; further studies should continuously collect and analyse data.

Real-world outcomes of 54-week vedolizumab therapy and response durability after treatment discontinuation in ulcerative colitis: results from a multicenter prospective POLONEZ study

BACKGROUND

Vedolizumab is a gut-selective anti-lymphocyte trafficking agent used to treat ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease.

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness, safety, and durability of the therapeutic effect of vedolizumab after treatment discontinuation in a real-world cohort of patients with UC treated in Poland.

DESIGN

This was a multicenter, prospective study involving patients with moderate to severely active UC from 12 centers in Poland who qualified for reimbursed treatment with vedolizumab between February and November 2019.

METHODS

The primary endpoints were clinical response (⩾2-point improvement from baseline on partial Mayo score) and clinical remission (partial Mayo score 0-1), including steroid-free remission, at week 54. Other outcomes included response durability at 26 weeks after treatment discontinuation, identification of predictors of response and remission, and safety assessment.

RESULTS

In all, 100 patients with UC were enrolled (55 biologic naïve and 45 biologic exposed). At baseline, 68% of patients were on corticosteroids and 45% on immunomodulators. Clinical response was observed in 62% of patients, clinical remission in 50%, and steroid-free remission in 42.6% at week 54. Within 26 weeks after treatment discontinuation, 37% of patients who maintained response by week 54 relapsed. The decreased number of liquid stools and rectal bleeding and endoscopic response at week 14 were predictive factors for response at week 54. Time from diagnosis ranging 2-5 years, decreased stool frequency, and non-concomitant use of corticosteroids at baseline and at week 14 were predictive factors for remission at week 54. Partial Mayo score < 3 with no subscale score > 1 at week 54 was a predictive factor for durable response after treatment discontinuation. The rate of serious adverse events related to treatment was 3.63 per 100 patient-years.

CONCLUSION

Vedolizumab is effective and safe in UC treatment in Polish patients. However, the relapse rate after the treatment cessation was high.

REGISTRATION

ENCePP (EUPAS34119).

Vedolizumab is superior to infliximab in biologic naïve patients with ulcerative colitis

There are no prospective, head-to-head, controlled trials comparing the efficacy and safety of Infliximab (IFX) and Vedolizumab (VDZ) for the treatment of moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis (UC), while only a few real-life retrospective studies have been published so far. We assessed the efficacy of IFX vs. VDZ in two cohorts of biologic-naïve outpatients with moderate-to-severe UC or mild, but refractory, disease. Data were extracted from patients' files and reviewed. The duration of follow-up (FU) was 52 weeks. The primary endpoint was the clinical remission (CR) at the end of FU. Secondary endpoints were: drug persistency, time to obtain CR, clinical response at the end of the induction phase (IP), steroid-free CR (compared to patients who used steroids at baseline) at the end of FU, need for drug optimization, adverse events (AEs), and normalization of C-reactive protein (CRP). We also analyzed the causes of dropping out (primary non-response), or secondary loss of response (immunogenic or not), for each group. We enrolled 82 patients (50 IFX and 32 VDZ) who met the inclusion criteria. At the end of FU, CR was obtained in 32% of the patients on IFX and 75% on VDZ (p = 0.0003). Drug persistency was superior for VDZ compared to IFX (78% vs. 52%, p = 0.033). Clinical response at the end of induction was reached in 54% and in 81% in the IFX and VDZ group, respectively (p = 0.014). Steroid-free clinical remission at the end of FU was 62% and 94% in the IFX vs. VDZ group, respectively (p = 0.036). The need for drug optimization was higher for VDZ than for IFX (28% vs. 57%, p = 0.009), while the time to obtain CR, the incidence of AEs, mean duration of FU, and rate of CRP normalization at the end of IP were comparable between the two groups. There was a prevalence of patients dropping out because of primary non-response in IFX group (p = 0.027), while the incidence of secondary loss of response was similar in the two groups. At the multivariate analysis, CRP and Partial Mayo Score (PMS) at T0 did not correlate with CR at the end of FU in both groups. In this retrospective, real world data study in biologic-naïve patients, VDZ was superior to IFX in CR, clinical response rate at the end of IP, drug persistency, steroid-free remission, and need for optimization at the end of FU.

The Real-World Effectiveness and Safety of Ustekinumab in the Treatment of Crohn's Disease: Results From the SUCCESS Consortium

INTRODUCTION

We evaluated the real-world effectiveness and safety of ustekinumab (UST) in patients with Crohn's disease (CD).

METHODS

This study used a retrospective, multicenter, multinational consortium of UST-treated CD patients. Data included patient demographics, disease phenotype, disease activity, treatment history, and concomitant medications. Cumulative rates of clinical, steroid-free, endoscopic, and radiographic remissions were assessed using time-to-event analysis, and clinical predictors were assessed by using multivariate Cox proportional hazard analyses. Serious infections and adverse events were defined as those requiring hospitalization or treatment discontinuation.

RESULTS

A total of 1,113 patients (51.8% female, 90% prior antitumor necrosis factor exposure) were included, with a median follow-up of 386 days. Cumulative rates of clinical, steroid-free, endoscopic, and radiographic remissions at 12 months were 40%, 32%, 39%, and 30%, respectively. Biologic-naive patients achieved significantly higher rates of clinical and endoscopic remissions at 63% and 55%, respectively. On multivariable analyses, prior antitumor necrosis factor (hazard ratio, 0.72; 95% confidence interval, 0.49-0.99) and vedolizumab exposure (hazard ratio, 0.65; 95% confidence interval, 0.48-0.88) were independently associated with lower likelihoods of achieving endoscopic remission. In patients who experienced loss of remission, 77 of 102 (75%) underwent dose optimization, and 44 of 77 (57%) achieved clinical response. An additional 152 of 681 patients (22.3%) were dose-optimized because of primary nonresponse incomplete response to UST, of whom 40.1% (61 of 152) responded. Serious infections occurred in 3.4% of patients while other noninfectious adverse events (lymphoma [n = 1], arthralgia [n = 6], rash [n = 6], headache [n = 3], hepatitis [n = 3], hair loss [n = 3], neuropathy [n = 1], and vasculitis [n = 1]) occurred in 2.4% of patients.

DISCUSSION

UST represents a safe and effective treatment option for CD, with 40% of patients from a highly refractory cohort achieving clinical remission by 12 months. The greatest treatment effect of UST was seen in biologic-naive patients, and dose escalation may recapture clinical response.

Comparative Long-Term Drug Survival of Vedolizumab, Adalimumab, and Infliximab in Biologic-Naïve Patients with Ulcerative Colitis

BACKGROUND

The comparative long-term survival of first-line biologics for UC and reasons for drug discontinuation are poorly understood. We sought to compare the long-term drug survival related to non-response (NR) and adverse effects (AEs) for vedolizumab, adalimumab, and infliximab among biologic-naïve patients with UC.

METHODS

This was a retrospective cohort study of adult biologic-naïve patients with moderate-to-severe UC initiating vedolizumab, adalimumab, or infliximab 6/1/14-12/31/20 at a large academic medical center. The primary outcome was time to biologic discontinuation for primary or secondary NR (including colectomy). The secondary outcome was time to biologic discontinuation due to AEs. Inverse probability of treatment-weighted (IPTW) Cox regression was used to perform three pair-wise comparisons of drug survival.

RESULTS

The cohort included 805 patients with UC who initiated vedolizumab (n = 195), adalimumab (n = 278), or infliximab (n = 332). The adjusted hazard of biologic discontinuation for NR was significantly lower for vedolizumab vs adalimumab (HR 0.51, 95% CI 0.34-0.75), similar for vedolizumab vs infliximab (HR 1.32, 95% CI 0.79-2.18), and greater for adalimumab vs infliximab (HR 2.07, 95% CI 1.51-2.86). The adjusted hazard of discontinuation for AEs was significantly lower for vedolizumab vs adalimumab (HR 0.25, 95% CI 0.09-0.64), lower for vedolizumab vs infliximab (HR 0.21, 95% CI 0.10-0.46), and similar for adalimumab vs infliximab (HR 0.85, 95% CI 0.53-1.35).

CONCLUSIONS

There was greater survival of vedolizumab compared to adalimumab for clinical response and greater survival of vedolizumab compared to both adalimumab and infliximab for AEs. These long-term data support the use of vedolizumab as a first-line biologic over adalimumab for biologic-naïve patients with UC.

Ustekinumab is associated with superior treatment persistence but not with higher remission rates versus vedolizumab in patients with refractory Crohn's disease: results from a multicentre cohort study

BACKGROUND

Treatment with antitumor necrosis factor alpha (anti-TNF-α) is safe and effective as first-line therapy; however, its efficacy is limited due to primary nonresponse (PNR) and secondary loss of response (LOR), resulting in treatment discontinuation in approximately 40%-50% of cases. Vedolizumab (VDZ) and ustekinumab (UST) therapies could be good alternatives in patient with anti-TNF failure; however, no head-to-head randomized comparison of these drugs as second- or third-line treatments has been made.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to assess the treatment persistence and comparative effectiveness of UST and VDZ in patients with refractory Crohn's disease (CD).

DESIGN

In this nationwide retrospective study, patients with CD on UST or VDZ maintenance therapy were enrolled. Clinical data at baseline, after induction, and at week 52 were obtained.

METHODS

Clinical and biochemical activities as well as corticosteroid-free remission (SFR) rates were assessed, while concomitant medications, comorbidities, hospitalizations, and surgeries were recorded during the follow-up to detect any predictors.

RESULTS

A total of 161 UST- and 65 VDZ-treated patients completed the follow-up. No significant difference in clinical or biochemical remission rates was observed after induction between the two treatment groups; however, clinical remission rate at week 52 was higher in UST group. UST showed superior drug persistence than VDZ (86.5%, 57.9%, p < 0.0001). The drug type was predictive of clinical SFR at week 52 [p = 0.011, odds ratio (OR) = 2.39 with UST]. Drug failure rates were higher for VDZ than those for UST (PNR rates: 21.54% and 4.97%, respectively, p < 0.001, OR = 8.267, p = 0.001). LOR and escalations were more common during UST treatment (61.5% versus 36.9%, p < 0.001; 64.2% versus 23.1%, p < 0.001). Hospital and surgical admission rates did not differ significantly. Only one adverse event occurred with VDZ at week 20, which led to drug cessation.

CONCLUSIONS

VDZ and UST were safe and effective for treating patients with CD in whom anti-TNF therapy failed. UST showed superior drug persistence than VDZ, but dose escalation was more frequent. Biologicals used in lower treatment lines resulted in better drug persistence.

Effectiveness and Safety Profiles of Biological Therapies in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Real Life Data from an Active Pharmacovigilance Project

Post-marketing surveillance is essential to evaluate the risk/benefit profile of drugs; however, pharmacovigilance studies comparing persistence and safety of biologic therapies in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are scant. The aim of this study was to prospectively investigate persistence together with safety profiles of biologics in a cohort of patients diagnosed with Crohn's Disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC) followed by the IBD unit of Messina and treated with infliximab (IFX), adalimumab (ADA), golimumab (GOL), vedolizumab (VED), and ustekinumab (UST) from 2017 through 2021. Descriptive and treatment persistence analyses with predictors for discontinuation and occurrence of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) were performed. A total of 675 IBD patients were enrolled. A higher persistence rate was noted for UST and ADA in the first year (83.8% and 83.1%, respectively) and for IFX in the fifth year of treatment (58.1%). GOL, VED, and UST-all used as second/third-line therapies-seemed to have a higher risk of non-persistence than IFX (in order HR: 2.19; CI 95%: 1.33-3.61, 1.45; 1.04-2.04, 2.25; 1.25-4.07) as well as switchers and those who had at least one ADR (18.1; 13.22-24.68 and 1.55; 1.20-1.99, respectively). The reported ADRs, which were generally mild-moderate, were largely known. However, real-world data should be implemented to further study undetected safety concerns, including risk of malignancy.

Treatment Patterns and Standardized Outcome Assessments Among Patients With Inflammatory Conditions of the Pouch in a Prospective Multicenter Registry

Background

Much of our understanding about the natural history of pouch-related disorders has been generated from selected populations. We designed a geographically diverse, prospective registry to study the disease course among patients with 1 of 4 inflammatory conditions of the pouch. The primary objectives in this study were to demonstrate the feasibility of a prospective pouch registry and to evaluate the predominant treatment patterns for pouch-related disorders.

Methods

We used standardized diagnostic criteria to prospectively enroll patients with acute pouchitis, chronic antibiotic-dependent pouchitis (CADP), chronic antibiotic refractory pouchitis (CARP), or Crohn’s disease (CD) of the pouch. We obtained detailed clinical and demographic data at the time of enrollment, along with patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures.

Results

We enrolled 318 patients (10% acute pouchitis, 27% CADP, 12% CARP, and 51% CD of the pouch). Among all patients, 55% were on a biologic or small molecule therapy. Patients with CD of the pouch were more likely to use several classes of therapy (P &lt; .001). Among patients with active disease at the time of enrollment, 23% with CARP and 40% with CD of the pouch were in clinical remission at 6 months after enrollment.

Conclusions

In a population where most patients had refractory inflammatory conditions of the pouch, we established a framework to evaluate PROs and clinical effectiveness. This infrastructure will be valuable for long-term studies of real-world effectiveness for pouch-related disorders.

Ustekinumab versus adalimumab for induction and maintenance therapy in biologic-naive patients with moderately to severely active Crohn's disease: a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, parallel-group, phase 3b trial

BACKGROUND

Active-comparator trials are important to inform patient and physician choice. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of monotherapy with either ustekinumab or adalimumab in biologic-naive patients with moderately to severely active Crohn's disease.

METHODS

We conducted a randomised, double-blind, parallel-group, active-comparator, phase 3b trial (SEAVUE) at 121 hospitals or private practices in 18 countries. We included biologic-naive patients aged 18 years or older with moderately to severely active Crohn's disease and a Crohn's Disease Activity Index (CDAI) score of 220-450, who had not responded to or were intolerant to conventional therapy (or were corticosteroid dependent) and had at least one ulcer of any size at baseline endoscopic evaluation. Eligible patients were randomly assigned (1:1; via an interactive web response system) to receive ustekinumab (approximately 6 mg/kg intravenously on day 0, then 90 mg subcutaneously once every 8 weeks) or adalimumab (160 mg on day 0, 80 mg at 2 weeks, then 40 mg once every 2 weeks, subcutaneously) through week 56. Study treatments were administered as monotherapy and without dose modifications. Patients, investigators, and study site personnel were masked to treatment group assignment. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients who were in clinical remission (CDAI score <150) at week 52 in the intention-to-treat population (ie, all patients who were randomly assigned to a treatment group). This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03464136, and EudraCT, 2017-004209-41.

FINDINGS

Between June 28, 2018, and Dec 12, 2019, 633 patients were assessed for eligibility and 386 were enrolled and randomly assigned to receive ustekinumab (n=191) or adalimumab (n=195). 29 (15%) of 191 patients in the ustekinumab group and 46 (24%) of 195 in the adalimumab group discontinued study treatment before week 52. There was no significant difference between the ustekinumab and adalimumab groups in the occurrence of the primary endpoint; at week 52, 124 (65%) of 191 patients in the ustekinumab group versus 119 (61%) of 195 in the adalimumab group were in clinical remission (between-group difference 4%, 95% CI -6 to 14; p=0·42). Safety for both groups was consistent with previous reports. Serious infections were reported in four (2%) of 191 patients in the ustekinumab group and five (3%) of 195 in the adalimumab group. No deaths occurred through week 52 of the study.

INTERPRETATION

Both ustekinumab and adalimumab monotherapies were highly effective in this population of biologic-naive patients, with no difference in the primary outcome between the drugs.

FUNDING

Janssen Scientific Affairs.

Ustekinumab in Crohn's Disease: New Data for Positioning in Treatment Algorithm

The treatment of patients with moderate to severe Crohn's disease [CD] is still challenging. Therapeutic options include steroids, immunosuppressants, anti-TNFα agents, vedolizumab, and ustekinumab. Ustekinumab is a monoclonal antibody blocking the p40 subunit of IL-12 and IL-23. It showed to be effective and safe in randomised clinical trials and real-life studies and is currently approved for the management of CD patients who are naive to biologics and those who have already been treated with such medications. However, to date, a detailed and approved therapeutic algorithm is not available. The aim of this review is to report the most recent and updated data on the efficacy and safety of ustekinumab for the treatment of patients with moderate to severe CD and to define the optimal management of these patients.

The Future of Precision Medicine to Predict Outcomes and Control Tissue Remodeling in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory bowel disease is characterized by significant interindividual heterogeneity. With a wider selection of pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic interventions available and in advanced developmental stages, a priority for the coming decade is to determine accurate methods of predicting treatment response and disease course. Precision medicine strategies will allow tailoring of preventative and therapeutic decisions to individual patient needs. In this review, we consider the future of precision medicine in inflammatory bowel disease. We discuss the critical need to extend from research focused on short-term symptomatic response to integrative multi-omic systems biology strategies to identify and validate biomarkers that underpin precision approaches. Crucially, the international community has collective responsibility to provide well-phenotyped and -curated longitudinal datasets for scientific discovery and validation. Research must also study broader aspects of the immune response, including components of the extracellular matrix, to better understand biological pathways initiating and perpetuating tissue fibrosis and longer-term disease complications.

Is There a Best First Line Biological/Small Molecule in IBD: Are We Ready for Sequencing?

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic, life-long inflammatory condition of the gastrointestinal tract. Treatment strategy depends on the severity of the disease course. IBD physicians need to be aware of the life-long treatment options available. The goal is not only to achieve clinical remission but to halt or stabilize the chronic inflammation in the intestines to prevent further structural damage. Therefore, the use of early biologic therapy is recommended in moderate-to-severe IBD patients. However, in the last decade, use of therapeutic drug monitoring has increased considerably, opening an opportunity for sequencing. This review summarizes the available evidence on biologic and small molecules therapy in Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) in different clinical scenarios, including perianal CD, the elderly, extra intestinal manifestations, and pregnancy.

Vedolizumab has longer persistence than infliximab as a first-line biological agent but not as a second-line biological agent in moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis: real-world registry data from the Persistence Australian National IBD Cohort (PANIC) study

BACKGROUND

The choice between infliximab (IFX) and vedolizumab (VED) as a first-line biological agent in moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis (UC) can be difficult. Second-line vedolizumab (VED) efficacy may decline following prior infliximab (IFX) treatment failure in UC patients. However, it is not known whether second-line IFX efficacy declines after failure of first-line VED.

AIMS

We aimed to compare first-line and second-line persistence of IFX and VED, in particular whether second-line IFX persistence declines after failure of first-line VED.

METHODS

Persistence of IFX and VED was analysed from the Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme registry data as either first- or second-line treatment in UC. Propensity score matching (1:1) was conducted in the comparison of first-line treatments. Cox proportional hazard regression analysis was used to identify significant predictors and expressed as a hazard ratio (HR and 95% CI).

RESULTS

There were 420 subjects with moderate-to-severe UC who received either first-line IFX (n = 251) or VED (n = 169), with 774 patient-years of follow-up. First-line VED had significantly longer persistence than first-line IFX (>50.2 versus 22.2 months, p = 0.001). Fifty-three subjects failed first-line IFX and swapped to second-line VED (IFX→VED group). Twenty-two subjects failed first-line VED group and swapped to second-line IFX (VED→IFX group). First-line VED persistence was significantly longer than second-line VED (>50.2 versus 32.0 months, p = 0.03), but first-line IFX persistence was not statistically significantly different to second-line IFX (27.6 months versus  > 38.6 months, p = 0.30). Immunomodulator co-therapy was significantly associated with a lower risk of nonpersistence of first-line VED (HR: 0.55, 95% CI: 0.33-0.89, p = 0.02) and IFX (HR: 0.63,95%CI: 0.33-0.92, p = 0.02).

CONCLUSION

VED had a significantly longer persistence than IFX as first-line biological agent but does not disadvantage second-line IFX use in moderate-to-severe UC. VED after IFX is associated with significantly poorer persistence. VED, therefore, should be considered as the first-line biological agent of choice in UC.