Tofacitinib as a Rescue Therapy for Ulcerative Colitis in Pregnancy

Tofacitinib, a potentially teratogenic nonselective Janus Kinase inhibitor was used as salvage therapy for ulcerative colitis during pregnancy with corticosteroids, maintenance ustekinumab, and rectal 5-ASA therapy. Corticosteroid-free remission ensued, resulting in term delivery without congenital malformations and avoidance of colectomy.

Forecasting the Incidence and Prevalence of Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Canadian Nationwide Analysis

INTRODUCTION

Canada has a high burden of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Historical trends of IBD incidence and prevalence were analyzed to forecast the Canadian burden over the next decade.

METHODS

Population-based surveillance cohorts in 8 provinces derived from health administrative data assessed the national incidence (2007-2014) and prevalence (2002-2014) of IBD. Autoregressive integrated moving average models were used to forecast incidence and prevalence, stratified by age, with 95% prediction intervals (PI), to 2035. The average annual percentage change (AAPC) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated for the forecasted incidence and prevalence.

RESULTS

The national incidence of IBD is estimated to be 29.9 per 100,000 (95% PI 28.3-31.5) in 2023. With a stable AAPC of 0.36% (95% CI -0.05 to 0.72), the incidence of IBD is forecasted to be 31.2 per 100,000 (95% PI 28.1-34.3) in 2035. The incidence in pediatric patients (younger than 18 years) is increasing (AAPC 1.27%; 95% CI 0.82-1.67), but it is stable in adults (AAPC 0.26%; 95% CI -0.42 to 0.82). The prevalence of IBD in Canada was 843 per 100,000 (95% PI 716-735) in 2023 and is expected to steadily climb (AAPC 2.43%; 95% CI 2.32-2.54) to 1,098 per 100,000 (95% PI 1,068-1,127) by 2035. The highest prevalence is in seniors with IBD (1,174 per 100,000 in 2023; AAPC 2.78%; 95% CI 2.75-2.81).

DISCUSSION

Over the next decade, the Canadian health care systems will contend with the juxtaposition of rising incidence of pediatric IBD and a rising prevalence of overall IBD driven by the aging population.

Upadacitinib Reduces Crohn's Disease Symptoms Within the First Week of Induction Therapy

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Upadacitinib (UPA), an oral Janus kinase inhibitor, is approved to treat moderately to severely active Crohn's disease (CD). Because symptomatic response is an important initial treatment goal for patients, we evaluated the rapidity of symptomatic improvement in patients with CD receiving UPA 45 mg once daily (UPA45) induction therapy.

METHODS

This post hoc analysis included pooled data from 2 phase 3, multicenter, double-blind, 12-week induction trials (U-EXCEL and U-EXCEED) and 1 maintenance trial (U-ENDURE). Daily diary data for the first 15 days of UPA45 or placebo (PBO) treatment were used to analyze improvement in very soft/liquid stool frequency (SF) and abdominal pain score (APS). Clinical outcomes were evaluated at every study visit.

RESULTS

Overall, 1021 patients (n = 674 UPA45; n = 347 PBO) were analyzed. UPA45 demonstrated greater efficacy vs PBO for SF <3 and APS ≤1, providing rapid relief by day 5 or 6, regardless of prior biologic exposure. Mean changes in SF and APS were greater with UPA45 beginning at week 2 (-2.0 and -0.5, respectively; P < .001) and were maintained through week 12 (-3.0 and -1.0, respectively; P < .001) vs PBO. The first achievement of daily SF/APS clinical remission occurred earlier with UPA45 (median, 13 d) vs PBO (median, 32 d), and patients treated with UPA45 showed improved rates of SF/APS clinical remission (21.1% UPA45 vs 8.9% PBO) and clinical response (58.8% UPA45 vs 37.9% PBO) starting at week 2 (both P ≤ .01).

CONCLUSIONS

UPA45 provided rapid relief of clinical symptoms within the first week of treatment in patients with CD.

CLINICALTRIALS

gov numbers: NCT03345849, NCT03345836, and NCT03345823.

Upadacitinib Achieves Clinical and Endoscopic Outcomes in Crohn's Disease Regardless of Prior Biologic Exposure

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Upadacitinib, an oral Janus kinase inhibitor, achieved significantly higher rates of clinical remission and endoscopic response vs placebo during induction (U-EXCEL [NCT03345849], U-EXCEED [NCT03345836]) and maintenance (U-ENDURE [NCT03345823]) treatment in patients with moderate-to-severe Crohn's disease. Prior biologic failure is often associated with reduced responses to subsequent therapies. This post hoc analysis assessed upadacitinib efficacy by prior biologic failure status.

METHODS

Patients were randomized to placebo or upadacitinib 45 mg (UPA45) for 12 weeks (induction). UPA45 clinical responders were enrolled in U-ENDURE and rerandomized to placebo, upadacitinib 15 mg, or upadacitinib 30 mg (UPA30) for 52 weeks. Assessments were by prior biologic failure.

RESULTS

Of 1021 patients, 733 (71.8%) had prior biologic failure. Across outcomes and subgroups, upadacitinib-treated patients achieved higher rates vs placebo. During induction, upadacitinib had higher rates vs placebo for clinical remission based on stool frequency/abdominal pain score (without failure: 54.0% vs 28.3%; with failure: 42.2% vs 14.1%) and endoscopic response (without failure: 52.0% vs 16.2%; with failure: 35.7% vs 5.3%). In maintenance, the greatest treatment effect (upadacitinib vs placebo) was among patients with prior biologic failure treated with UPA30 (clinical remission without failure: 58.5% vs 32.7%; with failure: 42.5% vs 8.7%; endoscopic response without failure: 43.9% vs 17.9%; with failure: 38.9% vs 4.0%). Patients without vs with prior biologic failure had fewer adverse events.

CONCLUSIONS

Upadacitinib led to higher absolutes rates of clinical and endoscopic outcomes in patients without vs with prior biologic failure. Patients treated with upadacitinib achieved greater rates of clinical and endoscopic improvements vs placebo, regardless of prior biologic exposure.

CLINICALTRIALS

gov: NCT03345849, NCT03345836, NCT03345823.

Two-Year Efficacy and Safety of Mirikizumab Following 104 Weeks of Continuous Treatment for Ulcerative Colitis: Results From the LUCENT-3 Open-Label Extension Study

BACKGROUND

Mirikizumab, a p19-directed interleukin-23 monoclonal antibody, is efficacious in inducing clinical remission at week 12 (W12) and maintaining clinical remission at W52 in patients with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis. Results are presented from the open-label extension study through W104.

METHODS

Clinical, symptomatic, quality-of-life, and adverse event outcomes are reported for mirikizumab induction responders and extended induction responders, including biologic-failed patients, who entered LUCENT-3, with data shown for W52 maintenance responders or remitters. Discontinuations or missing data were handled by nonresponder imputation (NRI), modified NRI (mNRI), and observed case (OC).

RESULTS

Among W52 mirikizumab responders, clinical response at W104 was 74.5%, 87.2%, and 96.7% and clinical remission was 76.6%, 89.0%, and 98.3% for NRI, mNRI, and OC, respectively. Among W52 mirikizumab remitters, clinical response at W104 was 54.0%, 62.8%, and 70.1% and clinical remission was 65.6%, 76.1%, and 84.2%. Using mNRI, remission rates at W104 for W52 clinical remitters were 74.7% corticosteroid-free, 79.5% endoscopic, 63.9% histologic-endoscopic mucosal remission, 85.9% symptomatic, 59.8% bowel urgency, 80.5% Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (using NRI), 71.2% histologic-endoscopic mucosal improvement, and 77.5% bowel urgency improvement. Previous biologic-failed vs not-biologic-failed patient data were generally similar. Extended induction mNRI clinical response was 81.9%. Serious adverse events were reported in 5.2% of patients; 2.8% discontinued treatment due to adverse events.

CONCLUSIONS

Endoscopic, histologic, symptomatic, and quality-of-life outcomes support the long-term benefit of mirikizumab treatment up to 104 weeks in patients with ulcerative colitis, including biologic-failed patients, with no new safety concerns.

Challenges in the diagnosis and treatment of inflammatory bowel disease in Latin America

The incidence and prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), namely Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, have increased in Latin America over the past few decades. Although incidence is accelerating in some countries in the region, other areas in Latin America are already transitioning into the next epidemiological stage-ie, compounding prevalence-with a similar epidemiological profile to the western world. Consequently, more attention must be given to the diagnosis and management of IBD in Latin America. In this Review, we provide an overview of epidemiology, potential local environmental risk factors, challenges in the management of IBD, and limitations due to the heterogenity of health-care systems, both public and private, in Latin America. Unresolved issues in the region include inadequate access to diagnostic resources, biological therapies, tight disease monitoring (including treat to target therapy, surveillance and prevention of complications, drug monitoring), and specialised IBD surgery. Local guidelines are an important effort to overcome barriers in IBD management. Advancements in long-term health-care policies will be important to promote early diagnosis, access to new treatments, and improvements in research in Latin America. These improvements will not only affect overall health care but will also lead to optimal prioritisation of IBD-related costs and resources and enhance the quality of life of people with IBD in Latin America.

Maintenance Risankizumab Sustains Induction Response in Patients with Crohn's Disease in a Randomized Phase 3 Trial

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Durable clinical remission, endoscopic healing, and biomarker normalization are key treatment goals for Crohn's disease. The selective anti-interleukin-23 p19 inhibitor risankizumab has demonstrated efficacy and safety in moderately to severely active Crohn's disease. This post-hoc analysis of data from the pivotal risankizumab maintenance study assessed whether risankizumab maintenance therapy sustained the clinical and endoscopic outcomes achieved with risankizumab induction therapy.

METHODS

We evaluated 462 patients who achieved a clinical response to risankizumab intravenous induction treatment and were re-randomized to receive subcutaneous risankizumab 360 mg, subcutaneous risankizumab 180 mg, or placebo [withdrawal] every 8 weeks for 52 weeks in the randomized, controlled FORTIFY maintenance study. Maintenance of clinical, endoscopic, and biomarker endpoints at week 52 among patients who achieved these endpoints after 12 weeks of induction treatment was evaluated.

RESULTS

A significantly higher proportion of patients receiving maintenance treatment with risankizumab 360 or 180 mg compared with placebo [withdrawal] maintained Crohn's Disease Activity Index remission [68.6%, 70.8%, vs 56.3%; p < 0.05], stool frequency/abdominal pain remission [69.2%, 64.1%, vs 50.5%; p < 0.01], endoscopic response [70.2%, 68.2%, vs 38.4%; p < 0.001], endoscopic remission [74.4%, 45.5%, vs 23.9%; p < 0.05], and Simple Endoscopic Score for Crohn's Disease of 0-2 [65.5%, 36.7%, vs 21.9%]. Most patients [56.8-83.3%] who achieved normalized faecal calprotectin or C-reactive protein during induction sustained them with maintenance risankizumab.

CONCLUSIONS

Subcutaneous risankizumab maintenance therapy results in durable improvement in clinical and endoscopic outcomes over 1 year in patients with moderately to severely active Crohn's disease.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT03105102.

Efficacy and Safety of Approximately 3 Years of Continuous Ozanimod in Moderately to Severely Active Ulcerative Colitis: Interim Analysis of the True North Open-label Extension

BACKGROUNDS AND AIMS

This interim analysis from the True North open-label extension [OLE] study examines efficacy and safety of approximately 3 years of continuous ozanimod treatment in patients with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis.

METHODS

Clinical responders after 52 weeks of ozanimod during the phase 3 True North study, who continued treatment in the OLE, were evaluated. Efficacy, including endoscopic and histological endpoints, was assessed during the OLE for approximately 2 additional years through OLE Week 94, using observed case [OC] and nonresponder imputation [NRI] analyses. Adverse events were monitored from True North baseline through OLE data cutoff and expressed as exposure-adjusted incidence rates.

RESULTS

This analysis included 131 patients; 54% had achieved corticosteroid-free remission at True North Week 52. In OC analyses, clinical response, clinical remission, and corticosteroid-free remission were achieved by 91.4%, 69.1%, and 67.9% of patients, respectively, at OLE Week 94 [146 weeks of total treatment]. Similarly, endoscopic improvement, histological remission, and mucosal healing were achieved by 73.3%, 67.3%, and 56.3% of patients, respectively, at OLE Week 94. Efficacy rates were lower using NRI analyses, but maintenance of efficacy was demonstrated through OLE Week 94. No new safety signals emerged from this analysis. Serious infections, malignancy, cardiovascular events, and hepatic events occurred infrequently.

CONCLUSIONS

Among patients who achieved clinical response after 1 year of ozanimod treatment during True North, a high percentage sustained clinical and mucosal efficacy over 2 additional years in the OLE. No new safety signals were observed with long-term ozanimod use.

Efficacy and safety of 48 weeks of guselkumab for patients with Crohn's disease: maintenance results from the phase 2, randomised, double-blind GALAXI-1 trial

BACKGROUND

Many patients with moderately to severely active Crohn's disease do not respond to available therapies or lose response over time. The GALAXI-1 study previously found that three intravenous guselkumab dosages showed superior clinical and endoscopic outcomes over placebo at week 12 in patients with moderately to severely active Crohn's disease. We report the safety and efficacy of subcutaneous guselkumab maintenance regimens to week 48 in the GALAXI-1 study.

METHODS

We did a phase 2, randomised, multicentre, double-blind trial. Adult patients with moderately to severely active Crohn's disease were randomly allocated with a computer-generated randomisation schedule to receive one of five treatment groups, with regimens consisting of an intravenous induction phase transitioning to a subcutaneous maintenance phase starting at week 12 in a treat-through design: (1) guselkumab 200→100 mg group (200 mg intravenous at weeks 0, 4, and 8, then 100 mg subcutaneous every 8 weeks; (2) guselkumab 600→200 mg group (600 mg intravenous at weeks 0, 4, and 8, then 200 mg subcutaneous every 4 weeks); (3) guselkumab 1200→200 mg group (1200 mg intravenous at weeks 0, 4, and 8, then 200 mg subcutaneous every 4 weeks); (4) ustekinumab group (approximately 6 mg/kg intravenous at week 0, then 90 mg subcutaneous every 8 weeks); or (5) placebo group (placebo induction followed by either placebo maintenance [for those with CDAI clinical response at week 12] or crossover to ustekinumab [for those without CDAI clinical response at week 12]). Endpoints assessed at week 48 included CDAI remission (CDAI score <150), endoscopic response (≥50% improvement from baseline in SES-CD or SES-CD score ≤2), and endoscopic remission (SES-CD score ≤2) in the primary efficacy analysis population of all randomised patients who received at least one dose of study drug, excluding those discontinued during a temporary study pause. Safety analyses included all randomised patients who received at least one study drug dose. This trial is registered at Clinical Trials.gov (NCT03466411) and is active but not recruiting.

FINDINGS

Among 700 patients screened, 309 (112 biologic-naive; 197 biologic-experienced) were included in the primary efficacy analysis population: 61 in the guselkumab 200→100 mg group, 63 in the guselkumab 600→200 mg group, 61 in the guselkumab 1200→200 mg group, 63 in the ustekinumab group, and 61 in the placebo group. 126 (41%) women and 183 (59%) men were included, with median age 36·0 years (IQR 28·0-49·0). At week 48, the numbers of patients with CDAI clinical remission were 39 (64%) in the guselkumab 200→100 mg group, 46 (73%) in the guselkumab 600→200 mg group, 35 (57%) in the guselkumab 1200→200 mg group, and 37 (59%) in the ustekinumab group. The corresponding numbers of patients with endoscopic response were 27 (44%), 29 (46%), 27 (44%), and 19 (30%), respectively, and endoscopic remission was seen in 11 (18%), 11 (17%), 20 (33%), and four (6%) patients, respectively. In the placebo group, 15 patients were in CDAI clinical response at week 12 and continued placebo; of these, nine (60%) were in clinical remission at week 48. 44 patients in the placebo group were not in CDAI clinical response at week 12 and crossed over to ustekinumab; of these, 26 (59%) were in clinical remission at week 48. Up to week 48, adverse events frequencies in the safety population (n=360) were 46 (66%) of 70 patients (464·9 events per 100 patient-years of follow-up) in the placebo group, 163 (74%) of 220 patients (353·1 per 100 patient-years) in the three guselkumab groups combined, and 60 (85%) of 71 patients (350·7 per 100 patient-years) in the ustekinumab group. Among patients treated with guselkumab or ustekinumab, the most frequently reported infections up to week 48 were nasopharyngitis (25 [11%] of 220 guselkumab recipients, 12 [11%] of 114 ustekinumab recipients) and upper respiratory infections (13 [6%] guselkumab recipients, eight [7%] ustekinumab recipients). After week 12, one patient who responded to placebo induction and two guselkumab-treated patients had serious infections. No active tuberculosis, opportunistic infections, or deaths occurred.

INTERPRETATION

Patients receiving guselkumab intravenous induction and subcutaneous maintenance treatment achieved high rates of clinical and endoscopic efficacy up to week 48. No new safety concerns were identified.

FUNDING

Janssen Research & Development.

Efficacy and safety of upadacitinib for 16-week extended induction and 52-week maintenance therapy in patients with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis

BACKGROUND

Upadacitinib is an oral, selective Janus kinase inhibitor.

AIM

To assess the efficacy and safety of upadacitinib in patients with moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis following 16-week extended induction therapy, and 52-week maintenance therapy in patients achieving clinical response after 16-week extended induction therapy METHODS: Patients without clinical response to 8 weeks' upadacitinib 45 mg once daily induction therapy in two induction trials were eligible for an additional 8 weeks of therapy. Patients achieving clinical response at Week 16 were subsequently re-randomised (1:1) to upadacitinib 15 or 30 mg once daily for 52-week maintenance therapy. Efficacy was assessed at induction Week 16 (integrated) and maintenance Week 52; safety was assessed throughout.

RESULTS

Overall, 127/663 (19.2%) patients did not achieve clinical response to upadacitinib 45 mg at Week 8 and received an additional 8 weeks of therapy; 75/127 (59.1%) subsequently achieved clinical response at Week 16 and entered the maintenance trial. At Week 52, 26.5% of patients receiving upadacitinib 15 mg, and 43.6% receiving 30 mg, achieved clinical remission; efficacy was observed across all other endpoints with both doses. Herpes zoster rates increased with longer duration (16 weeks) of exposure to upadacitinib 45 mg during induction compared with the same population during the first 8 weeks. No other new safety signals were observed, and results are otherwise consistent with the known safety profile of upadacitinib.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients without clinical response after 8 weeks' upadacitinib 45 mg induction therapy, may benefit from an additional 8 weeks of therapy.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

NCT02819635; NCT03653026.

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Patients with Ulcerative Colitis: Results from a Global Ulcerative Colitis Narrative Patient Survey

INTRODUCTION

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic created challenges related to disease management of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC).

METHODS

The UC Narrative COVID-19 survey was conducted from August to December 2021 among adults with UC from the United States, Canada, Japan, France, and Finland. Patients were questioned on disease management, health care access and experience, and preferences for interactions with their doctor. Data were analyzed descriptively.

RESULTS

In total, 584 patients qualified for and completed the survey. Compared with 2019, 25% experienced more flares during the pandemic (from early 2020). Most patients (88%) taking prescription medication were very/somewhat satisfied with their current treatment plan; 53% were hesitant to make changes during the pandemic. Factors that patients agreed helped control UC symptoms during the pandemic included fewer social outings (37%), working from home (29%), and less busy schedules (28%). Greater anxiety/stress (43%) and hesitancy to visit a hospital/office (34%) made the control of UC symptoms more difficult. Compared with 2019, more patients relied on certain alternative support systems during the pandemic. Patients who used in-person and virtual appointments were equally very satisfied/satisfied with the quality of care (both 81%). In-person appointments were preferred by 68% of patients when meeting a new doctor, 55% when experiencing a flare, and 52% for regular check-ups; 41% preferred virtual appointments for UC prescription refills.

CONCLUSION

During the pandemic, most patients were satisfied with their current UC treatment plan and access to care; more patients relied on certain alternative UC management support systems, and many were impacted by anxiety/stress.

Safety of Upadacitinib in Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Diseases: Systematic Literature Review of Indirect and Direct Treatment Comparisons of Randomized Controlled Trials

INTRODUCTION

Immune-mediated inflammatory diseases including rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS), non-radiographic axial spondylarthritis (nr-axSpA), atopic dermatitis (AD), ulcerative colitis (UC), and Crohn's disease (CD) pose a substantial burden on patients and their quality of life. Upadacitinib is an orally administered, selective, and reversible Janus kinase inhibitor indicated for seven conditions, but data on its safety versus other active treatments are limited. A systematic literature review of indirect and direct treatment comparisons of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted to assess the safety profile of upadacitinib.

METHODS

MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases were searched for indirect and direct treatment comparisons of RCTs that (1) included licensed upadacitinib dosages; (2) studied any of the seven conditions; (3) reported any adverse events (AEs), serious AEs (SAEs), AEs leading to discontinuation, major adverse cardiovascular event, venous thromboembolism, malignancies, infections or serious infections, and death; and (4) were published between January 2018 and August 2022.

RESULTS

A total of 25 studies were eligible for inclusion. SAEs, AEs leading to discontinuation, and any AEs were commonly studied. RA was the most studied condition, followed by AD and UC. Most studies (16/25, 64%) reported no statistically significant difference in the studied safety outcomes between upadacitinib and other active treatments (e.g., tumor necrosis factor blockers, interleukin receptor antagonists, integrin receptor antagonists, T cell co-stimulation modulator), or placebo (placebo ± methotrexate or topical corticosteroids). Other studies (9/25, 36%) reported mixed results of no statistically significant difference and either statistically higher (8/25, 32%) or lower rates (1/25, 4%) on upadacitinib.

CONCLUSION

Most studies suggested that upadacitinib has no statistically significant difference in the studied safety outcomes compared to active treatments or placebo in patients with RA, PsA, AS, AD, UC, and CD. A few studies reported higher rates, but findings were inconsistent with limited interpretation.

Editorial: Extending upadacitinib induction dosing in ulcerative colitis-A delicate balance of efficacy and safety. Author's reply

This article is linked to Panaccione et al papers. To view these articles, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.17816 and https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.17829

Efficacy and Safety of Ustekinumab for Ulcerative Colitis Through 4 Years: Final Results of the UNIFI Long-Term Maintenance Study

INTRODUCTION

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic condition that may require long-term treatment. We report the final efficacy and safety results of the UNIFI long-term extension study of ustekinumab in patients with UC through 4 years.

METHODS

Ustekinumab induction responders who completed 44 weeks of maintenance treatment and agreed to enter the long-term extension continued their subcutaneous maintenance therapy (90 mg ustekinumab every 8 or 12 weeks [q8w or q12w] or placebo). Starting at week 56, randomized patients could receive dose adjustment to 90 mg q8w. Symptoms and adverse events were assessed through the study; endoscopic assessment was conducted at week 200.

RESULTS

Of the 348 patients randomized to subcutaneous ustekinumab at maintenance baseline (q8w and q12w combined), 55.2% were in symptomatic remission at week 200. A greater proportion of biologic-naive patients (67.2% [117/174]) were in symptomatic remission than those with a history of biologic failure (41.6% [67/161]). Among patients in symptomatic remission at week 200, 96.4% were corticosteroid-free. Of the 171 patients with endoscopic evaluation at week 200, 81.6% (71/87) in the q12w group and 79.8% (67/84) in the q8w group had endoscopic improvement. From weeks 156 to the final safety visit (up to week 220), no deaths, major adverse cardiovascular events, or tuberculosis occurred in patients receiving ustekinumab. Nasopharyngitis, UC worsening, and upper respiratory tract infections were the most frequently reported adverse events.

DISCUSSION

The long-term efficacy of ustekinumab maintenance in patients with UC was confirmed through 4 years. No new safety signals were observed. ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT02407236.

Normal Infant Immunologic Assessment and Uneventful Live Rotavirus Vaccination Despite Continuous Tofacitinib Exposure In Utero and During Breastfeeding

Background

Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors are effective for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, this class of medications is not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding based on animal data suggesting teratogenesis and recent reports of transmammary transfer after maternal ingestion, raising concerns for immune system development in babies exposed to these drugs.

Methods

We present the case of a patient with IBD treated with a JAK inhibitor who decided to continue the medication throughout her pregnancy and during breastfeeding. This is the first reported case of a detailed immunologic profile in a baby exposed to tofacitinib in utero and during lactation.

Results

A 30-year-old female with ulcerative colitis with previous exposure to vedolizumab and infliximab achieved complete remission with tofacitinib therapy. The patient became pregnant after 5 months of JAK inhibitor therapy and decided to continue tofacitinib during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. The patient delivered a healthy offspring with no congenital malformations, a normal detailed immunologic profile, and subsequent safe provision of the live oral rotavirus vaccine.

Conclusions

This case highlights the importance of individualized counseling for patients of childbearing age who are candidates for JAK inhibition. Those who are pregnant or breastfeeding with refractory disease may have limited medical therapeutic options. Ongoing effective therapy for IBD resulted in complete disease remission in the mother and favorable outcomes in the infant. Further, an in-depth infant immunological assessment can lead to specific vaccination recommendations in exposed infants.

Risankizumab Induction Therapy Achieves Early Symptom Improvements That Are Associated With Future Clinical and Endoscopic Outcomes in Crohn's Disease: Post Hoc Analysis of the ADVANCE, MOTIVATE, and FORTIFY Phase 3 Studies

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Crohn's disease (CD) symptoms are a main driver for impaired quality of life and fast relief is important for patient care. Stool frequency (SF) and abdominal pain score (APS) are patient reported outcomes (PROs) measuring symptom severity, which are supported as treatment targets by the STRIDE-II consensus. This post hoc analysis examined the efficacy of risankizumab (RZB), a humanised monoclonal antibody with high specificity for interleukin-23 p19, for providing early symptom relief, along with the prognostic value of early symptom relief for achieving future clinical and endoscopic endpoints.

METHODS

Individual and combined measures of SF and AP at weeks 1, 2, and 3 were assessed in patients with moderate to severe CD who received 600 mg intravenous RZB or placebo (PBO) in the ADVANCE or MOTIVATE induction studies. Multivariate logistic regression was used to examine the predictiveness of early symptom improvement for clinical and endoscopic outcomes following RZB induction and maintenance.

RESULTS

Higher rates of SF/APS clinical remission and enhanced clinical response were observed as early as week 1 with RZB versus PBO. A larger proportion of patients achieved clinical endpoints with RZB versus PBO, irrespective of prior bio-failure status. Early PRO improvement was associated with a greater likelihood of achieving clinical and endoscopic improvement following 12-weeks induction and 52-weeks maintenance RZB dosing.

CONCLUSIONS

After the first intravenous RZB induction dose, significantly greater rates of symptom improvement versus PBO were achieved. Improvements could be observed as early as week 1 and were predictive of week 12 and 52 clinical and endoscopic improvement.

Incidence and Prevalence of Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis: A Meta-analysis of Population-based Studies

BACKGROUND

Primary sclerosing cholangitis is a chronic liver disease associated with significant morbidity, mortality, and healthcare utilization. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of population-based studies of the incidence and prevalence of primary sclerosing cholangitis.

METHODS

Medline and Embase were systematically searched to identify population-based studies of a defined geographic area and reported the incidence or prevalence of primary sclerosing cholangitis in the general population. Meta-analyses, using random-effects, were performed to calculate overall and country-specific incidence (per 100 000 persons/year) and prevalence rates (per 100 000 persons) with 95% confidence intervals.

RESULTS

The 14 studies on incidence and the 12 for prevalence originated from North America, Asia, Europe, and Oceania. Incidence and prevalence rates of primary sclerosing cholangitis were 0.87 (95% confidence interval, 0.59-1.29) and 13.53 (95% confidence interval, 10.20-17.94) per 100 000 persons, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Both the prevalence and incidence of primary sclerosing cholangitis is low in the general population. Future studies on the incidence and prevalence of primary sclerosing cholangitis in the general population should be directed at Asia, Africa, and Latin America to allow for a more robust assessment of the global epidemiology of primary sclerosing cholangitis.

Reliability and Responsiveness of Histologic Indices for the Assessment of Crohn's Disease Activity

BACKGROUND & AIMS

The operating properties of histologic indices for evaluating Crohn's disease (CD) activity are poorly characterized. We assessed the reliability and responsiveness of existing histologic indices/items used in CD and ulcerative colitis (UC), in addition to 3 novel items, and developed exploratory ileal, colonic, and colonic-ileal CD instruments.

METHODS

Blinded central readers independently reviewed paired baseline and week 12 image sets from the EXTEND trial. Disease activity was scored using 4 indices (the Global Histologic Activity Score, Geboes Score, Nancy Histological Index, and Robarts Histopathology Index) and 3 items identified by an expert panel (mucin depletion, basal plasmacytosis, and ileal pyloric gland metaplasia). Reliability and responsiveness were quantified using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and area under the receiver operating curve (AUC), respectively. Exploratory indices were developed using backward stepwise linear regression analysis. Candidate independent variables were items with an inter-rater ICC ≥0.40 and AUC ≥0.56. The dependent variable was histologic disease activity measured by a 100-mm visual analogue scale.

RESULTS

Paired image sets were available from 55 patients. Substantial to almost perfect inter-rater reliability (ICC, 0.63-0.87) and some responsiveness (AUC, 0.57-0.94) were observed for all existing indices regardless of whether individual colonic and ileal segments, combined colonic segments, or combined colonic and ileal segments were assessed and the calculation method used. Five items were tested as candidate items, and exploratory colonic, ileal, and colonic-ileal indices were developed.

CONCLUSIONS

CD and UC indices were similarly reliable and responsive in measuring histologic CD activity. Exploratory index development did not offer benefit over current histologic instruments.

Validation of a new optical diagnosis training module to improve dysplasia characterization in inflammatory bowel disease: a multicenter international study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) increases risk of dysplasia and colorectal cancer. Advanced endoscopic techniques allow for the detection and characterization of IBD dysplastic lesions, but specialized training is not widely available. We aimed to develop and validate an online training platform to improve the detection and characterization of colonic lesions in IBD: OPtical diagnosis Training to Improve dysplasia Characterization in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (OPTIC-IBD).

METHODS

We designed a web-based learning module that includes surveillance principles, optical diagnostic methods, approach to characterization, and classifications of colonic lesions using still images and videos. We invited gastroenterologists from Canada, Italy, and the United Kingdom with a wide range of experience. Participants reviewed 24 educational videos of IBD colonic lesions, predicted histology, and rated their confidence. The primary endpoint was to improve accuracy in detecting dysplastic lesions after training on the platform. Furthermore, participants were randomized 1:1 to get additional training or not, with a final assessment occurring after 60 days. Diagnostic performance for dysplasia and rater confidence were measured.

RESULTS

A total of 117 participants completed the study and were assessed for the primary endpoint. Diagnostic accuracy improved from 70.8% to 75.0% (P = .002) after training, with the greatest improvements seen in less experienced endoscopists. Improvements in both accuracy and confidence were sustained after 2 months of assessment, although the group randomized to receive additional training did not improve further. Similarly, participants' confidence in characterizing lesions significantly improved between before and after the course (P < .001), and it was sustained after 2 months of assessment.

CONCLUSIONS

The OPTIC-IBD training module demonstrated that an online platform could improve participants' accuracy and confidence in the optical diagnosis of dysplasia in patients with IBD. The training platform can be widely available and improve endoscopic care for people with IBD. (Clinical trial registration number: NCT04924543.).

The Safety, Tolerability, Pharmacokinetics and Clinical Efficacy of the NLRX1 agonist NX-13 in Active Ulcerative Colitis: Results of a Phase 1b Study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

NX-13 activation of NLRX1 reduces intracellular reactive oxygen species and decreases inflammation in animal models of colitis. A phase 1a trial demonstrated a gut-selective pharmacokinetic (PK) profile with good tolerability. This phase Ib study aimed to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and PK of NX-13 in patients with active ulcerative colitis (UC).

METHODS

We conducted a multicenter, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial of NX-13 in patients with active UC. Patients with a Mayo Clinic Score of 4-10 were randomly assigned (3:3:3:1 ratio) to three NX-13 oral dose groups (250mg Immediate Release (IR), 500mg IR, or 500mg Delayed Release (DR) or placebo) once daily for 4 weeks. Safety and PK were the primary and secondary objectives, respectively.

RESULTS

Thirty-eight patients (11 females) were recruited and randomized to placebo (5), NX-13 250mg IR (11), NX-13 500mg IR (11), or NX-13 500mg DR (11) and received at least one dose. There were no Serious Adverse Events (SAEs) or deaths during the trial. One patient (500mg DR, 1/11) withdrew for worsening of UC and a second (500mg IR, 1/11) on the last day of treatment after a panic attack associated with atrial fibrillation. In the efficacy population (36 patients), clinical improvement in rectal bleeding and stool frequency scores relative to placebo were seen as early as week 2 and endoscopic response was seen at week 4.

CONCLUSIONS

NX-13 was generally safe and well tolerated with early signs of rapid symptom and endoscopic improvement. This novel mechanism of action warrants further investigation. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04862741.

Health Care Disparities, Social Determinants of Health, and Emotional Impacts in Patients with Ulcerative Colitis: Results from a Global Ulcerative Colitis Narrative Patient Survey

BACKGROUND

The Ulcerative Colitis (UC) Narrative global survey assessed aspects of living with UC. This analysis aimed to identify health care disparities, social determinants of health, and emotional impacts related to UC disease management, patient experience, and quality of life.

METHODS

The survey was conducted by The Harris Poll from August 2017 to February 2018 among adults with UC. Responses from 1000 patients in the United States, Canada, Japan, France, and Finland were analyzed based on patient income, employment status, educational level, age, sex, and psychological comorbidities. Odds ratios (ORs) with significant P values (P < .05) from multivariate logistic regression models are reported.

RESULTS

Low-income vs high-income patients were less likely to have participated in a peer mentoring (OR, 0.30) or UC education program (OR, 0.51). Patients not employed were less likely to report being in "good/excellent" health (OR, 0.58) than patients employed full time. Patients with low vs high educational levels were less likely to have reached out to patient associations/organizations (OR, 0.59). Patients aged younger than 50 years vs those aged 50 years and older were less likely to have visited an office within an inflammatory bowel disease center/clinic in the past 12 months (OR, 0.53). Males were less likely to be currently seeing their gastroenterologist than females (OR, 0.66). Patients with vs without depression were less likely to agree that UC had made them more resilient (OR, 0.51).

CONCLUSIONS

Substantial differences in disease management and health care experience were identified, based on categories pertaining to patient demographics and psychological comorbidities, which may help health care providers better understand and advance health equity to improve patient care.

Upadacitinib Induction and Maintenance Therapy Improves Abdominal Pain, Bowel Urgency, and Fatigue in Patients With Ulcerative Colitis: A Post Hoc Analysis of Phase 3 Data

BACKGROUND

This post hoc analysis of a large, phase 3 program evaluated the effects of upadacitinib on fatigue, bowel urgency, and abdominal pain in patients with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis.

METHODS

Induction data were pooled from 2 identical studies, the U-ACHIEVE induction and U-ACCOMPLISH studies. Patients in these studies received upadacitinib 45 mg once daily or placebo as induction treatment. Responders to induction treatment were rerandomized in the U-ACHIEVE maintenance study to upadacitinib 15 mg once daily, upadacitinib 30 mg, or placebo. The percentage of patients reporting no abdominal pain and no bowel urgency daily via an electronic diary and a meaningful within-person change (≥5 points) in the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue score were evaluated.

RESULTS

The results demonstrated a statistically significantly greater percentage of patients reporting no abdominal pain and absence of bowel urgency observed from week 2 (P < .001), with upadacitinib induction treatment and clinically meaningful improvements in Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue score observed at week 8 (P < .001), when compared with placebo. The maintenance study showed that significant and meaningful improvements in abdominal pain, bowel urgency, and Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue score achieved during induction were sustained through 52 weeks of maintenance treatment in upadacitinib- vs placebo-treated patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of this study support the additional benefit of upadacitinib in treating moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis by demonstrating a statistically significant impact on clinically meaningful symptoms of fatigue, bowel urgency, and abdominal pain.(U-ACHIEVE induction and maintenance studies; NCT02819635; U-ACCOMPLISH induction study; NCT03653026).

Bowel Urgency in Ulcerative Colitis: Current Perspectives and Future Directions

Bowel urgency (BU), the sudden or immediate need for a bowel movement, is one of the most common and disruptive symptoms experienced by patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). Distinct from the separate symptom of increased stool frequency, BU has a substantial negative impact on quality of life and psychosocial functioning. Among patients with UC, BU is one of the top reasons for treatment dissatisfaction and one of the symptoms patients most want improved. Patients may not discuss BU often due to embarrassment, and healthcare providers may not address the symptom adequately due to the lack of awareness of validated tools and/or knowledge of the importance of assessing BU. The mechanism of BU in UC is multifactorial and includes inflammatory changes in the rectum that may be linked to hypersensitivity and reduced compliance of the rectum. Responsive and reliable patient-reported outcome measures of BU are needed to provide evidence of treatment benefits in clinical trials and facilitate communication in clinical practice. This review discusses the pathophysiology and clinical importance of BU in UC and its impact on the quality of life and psychosocial functioning. Patient-reported outcome measures developed to assess the severity of BU in UC are discussed alongside overviews of treatment options and clinical guidelines. Implications for the future management of UC from the perspective of BU are also explored.

Efficacy and safety of upadacitinib maintenance therapy for moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis in patients responding to 8 week induction therapy (U-ACHIEVE Maintenance): overall results from the randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind, phase 3 maintenance study

BACKGROUND

Upadacitinib is an oral, selective, and reversible JAK inhibitor with demonstrated efficacy in patients with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis in a phase 2b induction trial, two phase 3 induction trials (U-ACHIEVE Induction and U-ACCOMPLISH), and a primary analysis of the first 451 patients entering a subsequent maintenance trial (U-ACHIEVE Maintenance). Here, we present overall results from the entire U-ACHIEVE Maintenance population.

METHODS

In this randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind, phase 3 maintenance study done across Europe, North and South America, Australasia, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific region at 251 clinical centres in 44 countries, patients aged 16-75 years with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis (adapted Mayo score 5-9, centrally assessed endoscopic subscore of 2 or 3) for 90 days or more were randomly assigned (2:1) to double-blind upadacitinib 45 mg once daily or placebo induction therapy in the phase 2b induction trial or two phase 3 induction trials. Patients with a clinical response per adapted Mayo score after 8 weeks were randomly reassigned (1:1:1) using web-based interactive response technology to 52 week double-blind maintenance therapy with placebo, upadacitinib 15 mg, or upadacitinib 30 mg once daily. Efficacy was analysed at week 52 in the intention-to-treat population, which included all patients randomly reassigned who received at least one dose of study drug. The primary endpoint was clinical remission per adapted Mayo score. Safety through week 52 was assessed with exposure-adjusted event rates (EAERs; events per 100 patient-years) in upadacitinib 45 mg once daily 8-week induction responders who were enrolled per protocol for 44-week or 52-week maintenance therapy (ie, the intention-to-treat population plus patients who received up to 44 weeks' maintenance therapy under earlier protocol amendments) and received at least one dose of study drug. The study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02819635 and is complete.

FINDINGS

Between Sept 3, 2016, and Jan 14, 2021 987 patients received the upadacitinib 45 mg once daily induction therapy in the phase 2b trial, U-ACHIEVE Induction, or U-ACCOMPLISH. 681 patients with a clinical response to the induction therapy (319 from U-ACHIEVE Induction, 341 from U-ACCOMPLISH, and 21 from the phase 2b induction trial) received placebo (n=223), upadacitinib 15 mg once daily (n=225), or upadacitinib 30 mg once daily (n=233) in U-ACHIEVE Maintenance and were included in this analysis. A greater proportion of patients achieved the primary endpoint with upadacitinib 15 mg (40·4%) and 30 mg once daily (53·6%) versus placebo (10·8%; both p<0·0001 vs placebo). For safety, 746 patients were analysed, representing 552·9 patient-years of exposure; the most common grade 3-4 treatment-emergent adverse events were worsening of ulcerative colitis in nine (4%) patients with placebo, and COVID-19 pneumonia and cryptococcal pneumonia in two (1%) patients each with upadacitinib 30 mg once daily. Higher EAERs of the following treatment-emergent events of special interest were observed with upadacitinib versus placebo: herpes zoster (6·0 events per 100 patient-years with upadacitinib 15 mg once daily and 7·3 events per 100 patient-years with upadacitinib 30 mg once daily vs none per 100 patient-years with placebo [12 and 16 vs no events, respectively), hepatic disorders (17·0 and 9·2 vs 5·9 events per 100 patient-years [34 and 20 vs eight events, respectively), creatine phosphokinase elevation (8·0 and 10·1 vs 3·7 events per 100 patient-years [16 and 22 vs five events], respectively), and neutropenia (5·5 and 8·7 vs 5·2 events per 100 patient-years [11 and 19 vs seven events], respectively). One (<1% of patients) adjudicated major adverse cardiovascular event occurred with placebo and one (<1% of patients) with upadacitinib 30 mg once daily (EAERs 0·7 and 0·5 events per 100 patient-years, respectively). Two (1% of patients) venous thromboembolic events occurred with upadacitinib 15 mg once daily and two (1% of patients) with upadacitinib 30 mg once daily (EAERs 1·0 and 0·9 events per 100 patient-years, respectively). All adjudicated major adverse cardiovascular events and venous thromboembolic events with upadacitinib occurred in patients with relevant known risk factors.

INTERPRETATION

Consistent with the primary analysis done among a smaller population, both maintenance doses of upadacitinib showed a positive benefit-risk profile in patients with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis. Upadacitinib represents an effective treatment option for this population, for whom a large unmet need persists.

FUNDING

AbbVie.

Hospitalization Rates for Inflammatory Bowel Disease Are Decreasing Over Time: A Population-based Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Recent advances in the management of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) striving for new treatment targets may have decreased rates of hospitalization for flares. We compared all-cause, IBD-related, and non-IBD-related hospitalizations while accounting for the rising prevalence of IBD.

METHODS

Population-based, administrative health care databases identified all individuals living with IBD in Alberta between fiscal year 2002 and 2018. Hospitalization rates (all-cause, IBD-related, and non-IBD-related) were calculated using the prevalent Alberta IBD population. Hospitalizations were stratified by disease type, age, sex, and metropolitan status. Data were age and sex standardized to the 2019 Canadian population. Log-linear models calculated Average Annual Percentage Change (AAPC) in hospitalization rates with associated 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

RESULTS

From 2002-2003 to 2018-2019, all-cause hospitalization rates decreased from 36.57 to 16.72 per 100 IBD patients (AAPC, -4.18%; 95% CI, -4.69 to -3.66). Inflammatory bowel disease-related hospitalization rate decreased from 26.44 to 9.24 per 100 IBD patients (AAPC, -5.54%; 95% CI, -6.19 to -4.88). Non-IBD-related hospitalization rate decreased from 10.13 to 7.48 per 100 IBD patients (AAPC, -1.82%; 95% CI, -2.14 to -1.49). Those over 80 years old had the greatest all-cause and non-IBD-related hospitalization rates. Temporal trends showing decreasing hospitalization rates were observed across age, sex, IBD type, and metropolitan status.

CONCLUSIONS

Hospitalization rates are decreasing for all-cause, IBD-related, and non-IBD-related hospitalizations. Over the past 20 years, the care of IBD has transitioned from hospital-based care to ambulatory-centric IBD management.

Standardizing Scoring Conventions for Crohn's Disease Endoscopy: An International RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Endoscopic assessment of disease activity is integral for evaluating treatment response in patients with Crohn's disease (CD). We aimed to define appropriate items for evaluating endoscopic activity and conventions for consistent endoscopic scoring rules in CD.

METHODS

A 2-round modified RAND/University of California at Los Angeles Appropriateness Method study was conducted. A panel of 15 gastroenterologists used a 9-point Likert scale to rate the appropriateness of statements pertaining to the Simple Endoscopic Score for CD, Crohn's Disease Endoscopic Index of Severity, and additional items relevant to endoscopy scoring in CD. Each statement was voted as appropriate, uncertain, or inappropriate based on the median panel rating and presence of disagreement.

RESULTS

Panelists voted that it is appropriate for all ulcers to contribute to endoscopic scoring in CD, including aphthous ulcers, ulcerations at a surgical anastomosis, and anal canal ulcers (scored in the rectum). Endoscopic healing should reflect an absence of ulcers. Narrowing should be defined as a clear decrease in luminal diameter; stenosis should be defined by an impassable narrowing, and if occurring at the junction of 2 segments, scored in the distal segment. Scarring and inflammatory polyps were considered inappropriate for including in the affected area score. The optimal method for defining ulcer depth remains uncertain.

CONCLUSIONS

We outlined scoring conventions for the Simple Endoscopic Score for CD and Crohn's Disease Endoscopic Index of Severity, noting that both scores have limitations. Therefore, we identified priorities for future research and steps for developing and validating a more representative endoscopic index in CD.

Gut Microbiome Composition Is Associated With Future Onset of Crohn's Disease in Healthy First-Degree Relatives

BACKGROUND & AIMS

The cause of Crohn's disease (CD) is unknown, but the current hypothesis is that microbial or environmental factors induce gut inflammation in genetically susceptible individuals, leading to chronic intestinal inflammation. Case-control studies of patients with CD have cataloged alterations in the gut microbiome composition; however, these studies fail to distinguish whether the altered gut microbiome composition is associated with initiation of CD or is the result of inflammation or drug treatment.

METHODS

In this prospective cohort study, 3483 healthy first-degree relatives (FDRs) of patients with CD were recruited to identify the gut microbiome composition that precedes the onset of CD and to what extent this composition predicts the risk of developing CD. We applied a machine learning approach to the analysis of the gut microbiome composition (based on 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing) to define a microbial signature that associates with future development of CD. The performance of the model was assessed in an independent validation cohort.

RESULTS

In the validation cohort, the microbiome risk score (MRS) model yielded a hazard ratio of 2.24 (95% confidence interval, 1.03-4.84; P = .04), using the median of the MRS from the discovery cohort as the threshold. The MRS demonstrated a temporal validity by capturing individuals that developed CD up to 5 years before disease onset (area under the curve > 0.65). The 5 most important taxa contributing to the MRS included Ruminococcus torques, Blautia, Colidextribacter, an uncultured genus-level group from Oscillospiraceae, and Roseburia.

CONCLUSION

This study is the first to demonstrate that gut microbiome composition is associated with future onset of CD and suggests that gut microbiome is a contributor in the pathogenesis of CD.

Efficacy and Safety of IL-12/23 and IL-23 Inhibitors for Crohn's Disease: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

Targeting interleukin-23 (IL-23) is an important therapeutic strategy for Crohn's disease (CD).

AIMS

This systematic review and meta-analysis assessed the efficacy and safety of selective IL-23p19 and IL-12/23p40 inhibitors in patients with moderate-to-severe CD.

METHODS

MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane library (CENTRAL) were searched from inception to May 24, 2023, for randomized, placebo- or active comparator-controlled induction and/or maintenance trials of selective IL-23p19 and IL-12/23p40 inhibitors in pediatric and adult patients with CD. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients in clinical remission. Secondary outcomes were clinical response, endoscopic remission, endoscopic response, and safety. Data were pooled using a random-effects model. Risk of bias and certainty of evidence were assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool and the GRADE criteria, respectively.

RESULTS

Eighteen trials (n = 5561) were included. Most studies were rated as low risk of bias. Targeting IL-23 was significantly superior to placebo for inducing clinical (risk ratio [RR] = 1.87, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.58-2.21) and endoscopic (RR = 3.20, 95%CI 2.17-4.70) remission and maintaining clinical remission (RR = 1.39, 95%CI 1.10-1.77) (GRADE high certainty evidence for all outcomes). Subgroup analysis showed that targeting IL-23 was superior to placebo for inducing clinical remission in biologic-naïve (RR = 2.20, 95%CI 1.46-3.32, I2 = 0%, p = 0.39) and biologic-experienced patients (RR = 1.82, 95%CI 1.27-2.60, I2 = 56.5%, p = 0.01). Targeting IL-23 was associated with a decreased risk of serious adverse events in induction (RR = 0.55, 95%CI 0.44-0.73) and maintenance (RR = 0.72, 95%CI 0.53-0.98) trials compared to placebo (high certainty evidence).

CONCLUSION

Targeting IL-23 is effective and safe for inducing and maintaining clinical and endoscopic remission in patients with moderate-to-severe CD.

Adverse Events and Serological Responses After SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination in Individuals With Inflammatory Bowel Disease

INTRODUCTION

We determined adverse events after 4 doses of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccine in those with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), associations between antibodies and injection site reactions (ISR), and risk of IBD flare.

METHODS

Individuals with IBD were interviewed for adverse events to SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. Multivariable linear regression assessed the association between antibody titers and ISR.

RESULTS

Severe adverse events occurred in 0.03%. ISR were significantly associated with antibody levels after the fourth dose (geometric mean ratio = 2.56; 95% confidence interval 1.18-5.57). No cases of IBD flare occurred.

DISCUSSION

SARS-CoV-2 vaccines are safe for those with IBD. ISR after the fourth dose may indicate increased antibodies.

Artificial Intelligence in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Endoscopy: Implications for Clinical Trials

Artificial intelligence shows promise for clinical research in inflammatory bowel disease endoscopy. Accurate assessment of endoscopic activity is important in clinical practice and inflammatory bowel disease clinical trials. Emerging artificial intelligence technologies can increase efficiency and accuracy of assessing the baseline endoscopic appearance in patients with inflammatory bowel disease and the impact that therapeutic interventions may have on mucosal healing in both of these contexts. In this review, state-of-the-art endoscopic assessment of mucosal disease activity in inflammatory bowel disease clinical trials is described, covering the potential for artificial intelligence to transform the current paradigm, its limitations, and suggested next steps. Site-based artificial intelligence quality evaluation and inclusion of patients in clinical trials without the need for a central reader is proposed; for following patient progress, a second reading using AI alongside a central reader with expedited reading is proposed. Artificial intelligence will support precision endoscopy in inflammatory bowel disease and is on the threshold of advancing inflammatory bowel disease clinical trial recruitment.

The Communicating Needs and Features of IBD Experiences (CONFIDE) Study: US and European Patient and Health Care Professional Perceptions of the Experience and Impact of Symptoms of Moderate-to-Severe Ulcerative Colitis

BACKGROUND

The Communicating Needs and Features of IBD Experiences (CONFIDE) study aimed to evaluate the experience and impact of ulcerative colitis (UC) symptoms on patients' lives and elucidate gaps in communication between patients and health care professionals (HCPs).

METHODS

Online, quantitative, cross-sectional surveys of patients with moderate-to-severe UC and HCPs responsible for making prescribing decisions were conducted in the United States (US) and Europe. UC disease severity was defined by treatment, steroid use, and/or hospitalization history.

RESULTS

Surveys were completed by 200 US and 556 European patients and 200 US and 503 European HCPs. The most common UC symptoms experienced in the preceding month were diarrhea, bowel urgency, and increased stool frequency. Many patients (45.0% of US patients, 37.0% of European patients) reported wearing diapers/pads/protection at least once a week in the past 3 months due to fear/anticipation of fecal urge incontinence. The top reasons for declining participation in social events, work/school, and sports/exercise were due to bowel urgency and fear of fecal urge incontinence. HCPs ranked diarrhea, blood in stool, and increased stool frequency as the most common symptoms. While over half HCPs ranked bowel urgency as a top symptom affecting patients' lives, less than a quarter ranked it in the top 3 most impactful on treatment decisions.

CONCLUSIONS

Similar disparities exist between patient and HCP perceptions in the United States and Europe on the experience and impact of UC symptoms. Bowel urgency has a substantial and similar impact on US and European patients, is underappreciated by HCPs, and should be addressed during routine appointments.

Despite Increased Disease Activity, Women who Attended a Dedicated Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Pregnancy Clinic Had Infants With Higher Apgar Scores: A Population-Based Study

BACKGROUND

Attendance at a subspecialty pregnancy clinic for women with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) improves disease-specific pregnancy knowledge. We examined the impact of attendance at a dedicated IBD-pregnancy clinic on IBD and perinatal outcomes.

METHODS

Using linked administrative databases in Alberta, Canada (2012-2019), we identified 1061 pregnant women with IBD who delivered singleton liveborn infants in-hospital who did (n = 314) and did not attend (n = 747) the clinic. Propensity score weighted multivariable log-binomial and multinomial logistic regression models were used to determine the risk of IBD and perinatal outcomes.

RESULTS

The median number of clinic visits was 3 (Q1-Q3, 3-5), with 34.7% completing a preconception consultation. A greater proportion of women who attended lived near the clinic, were nulliparous, had a disease flare prior to pregnancy, and were on maintenance IBD medication (P < .05). Women who attended had increased risks of a disease flare during pregnancy (adjusted risk ratio [aRR], 2.02; 95% CI, 1.45-2.82), an IBD-related emergency department visit during pregnancy (aRR, 2.66; 95% CI, 1.92-3.68), and cesarean delivery (aRR, 1.78; 95% CI, 1.23-2.57). Despite this, clinic attendees had a decreased risk of delivering an infant with a low Apgar score at 1 minute (risk ratio [RR], 0.49; 95% CI, 0.32-0.76) and 5 minutes (RR, 0.32; 95% CI, 0.12-0.87).

CONCLUSIONS

Women who attended a dedicated IBD-pregnancy clinic were more likely to have a disease flare prior to pregnancy, reflecting a more severe disease phenotype, but had similar perinatal outcomes and infants with better Apgar scores at birth. Our study suggests the value of these subspecialty clinics in providing enhanced IBD-specific prenatal care.

Upadacitinib Induction and Maintenance Therapy for Crohn's Disease

BACKGROUND

Upadacitinib, an oral selective Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor, is under investigation for the treatment of Crohn's disease.

METHODS

In two phase 3 induction trials (U-EXCEL and U-EXCEED), we randomly assigned patients with moderate-to-severe Crohn's disease to receive 45 mg of upadacitinib or placebo (2:1 ratio) once daily for 12 weeks. Patients who had a clinical response to upadacitinib induction therapy were randomly assigned in the U-ENDURE maintenance trial to receive 15 mg of upadacitinib, 30 mg of upadacitinib, or placebo (1:1:1 ratio) once daily for 52 weeks. The primary end points for induction (week 12) and maintenance (week 52) were clinical remission (defined as a Crohn's Disease Activity Index score of <150 [range, 0 to 600, with higher scores indicating more severe disease activity]) and endoscopic response (defined as a decrease in the Simple Endoscopic Score for Crohn's Disease [SES-CD; range, 0 to 56, with higher scores indicating more severe disease] of >50% from baseline of the induction trial [or for patients with an SES-CD of 4 at baseline, a decrease of ≥2 points from baseline]).

RESULTS

A total of 526 patients underwent randomization in U-EXCEL, 495 in U-EXCEED, and 502 in U-ENDURE. A significantly higher percentage of patients who received 45-mg upadacitinib than those who received placebo had clinical remission (in U-EXCEL, 49.5% vs. 29.1%; in U-EXCEED, 38.9% vs. 21.1%) and an endoscopic response (in U-EXCEL, 45.5% vs. 13.1%; in U-EXCEED, 34.6% vs. 3.5%) (P<0.001 for all comparisons). At week 52 in U-ENDURE, a higher percentage of patients had clinical remission with 15-mg upadacitinib (37.3%) or 30-mg upadacitinib (47.6%) than with placebo (15.1%), and a higher percentage had an endoscopic response with 15-mg upadacitinib (27.6%) or 30-mg upadacitinib (40.1%) than with placebo (7.3%) (P<0.001 for all comparisons). Herpes zoster infections occurred more frequently in the 45-mg and 30-mg upadacitinib groups than in the respective placebo groups, and hepatic disorders and neutropenia were more frequent in the 30-mg upadacitinib group than in the other maintenance groups. Gastrointestinal perforations developed in 4 patients who received 45-mg upadacitinib and in 1 patient each who received 30-mg or 15-mg upadacitinib.

CONCLUSIONS

Upadacitinib induction and maintenance treatment was superior to placebo in patients with moderate-to-severe Crohn's disease. (Funded by AbbVie; U-EXCEL, U-EXCEED, and U-ENDURE ClinicalTrials.gov numbers, NCT03345849, NCT03345836, and NCT03345823.).

Dose Escalation Patterns of Advanced Therapies in Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis: A Systematic Literature Review

INTRODUCTION

Dose escalation is one of the treatment approaches studied and suggested in advanced therapies for Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). This study aimed to identify and characterize the dosing escalation patterns of advanced therapies in CD and UC.

METHODS

Two systematic literature reviews (SLRs) were conducted in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. MEDLINE®, Embase®, and Cochrane Library were searched for articles published between January 2011 and October 2021 and limited to non-interventional studies in English language. Congress and bibliographic searches were also conducted. Articles were screened by two independent researchers. Dose escalation patterns were described and summarized considering the regional regulatory label recommendation (in North America [NA] or outside of North America [ONA]).

RESULTS

Among 3190 CD and 2116 UC articles identified in the Ovid searches, 100 CD and 54 UC studies were included in the SLR, with more studies conducted ONA. Most studies reported an initial maintenance dose pattern aligned with the lower starting dose per local regulatory label; however, several ONA studies (n = 13 out of 14) reported ustekinumab every 8 weeks as starting maintenance pattern in CD. In ONA studies, the median within-guideline escalation rates in CD and UC were 43% in ustekinumab (CD only), 33% and 32% for vedolizumab; 29% and 39% for adalimumab; and 14% and 10% for infliximab. Evidence regarding dose escalation patterns for tofacitinib, certolizumab pegol, and golimumab was limited. Some dose escalation patterns outside of label recommendations were observed including ustekinumab every 8 weeks to every 4 weeks and vedolizumab every 8 weeks to every 6 weeks.

CONCLUSION

Dose escalation strategies are widely documented in the literature. The reported dose escalation patterns and escalation rates vary by region and by CD and UC. Most escalation patterns reported were aligned with regulatory recommendations while some reported more diverse or aggressive dose escalation.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION

CRD42021289251.

Advanced Combination Treatment With Biologic Agents and Novel Small Molecule Drugs for Inflammatory Bowel Disease

The use of combination therapy with a biologic agent and immunosuppressant has well-established efficacy and safety and is common practice in the management of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Current research has shifted focus toward the use of advanced combination treatment (ACT). This term was coined to describe combination therapy using 2 or more advanced treatments (biologic agents and/or oral small molecule drugs) with the aim of achieving optimal disease control in selected patients. An ACT approach may be particularly beneficial in patients with documented medically refractory IBD and in patients with a poor prognosis, extraintestinal manifestations, or concomitant immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. To date, the body of evidence for ACT strategies in IBD is largely comprised of uncontrolled retrospective case series and cohort studies in highly refractory patients. Recently, results from the VEGA trial have suggested that combination induction therapy with guselkumab and golimumab was more effective in ulcerative colitis than either agent alone. However, questions remain about issues such as related costs, ACT duration, and optimal combinations to adopt. Future randomized controlled trials are likely to evaluate rationally selected combinations of agents. This article summarizes the available literature on ACT, including comparisons with traditional combination therapy and the rheumatology field, and discusses practical recommendations, profiles of IBD patients who should be considered for combination approaches in clinical practice, and remaining knowledge gaps.

Artificial intelligence in inflammatory bowel disease: implications for clinical practice and future directions

Inflammatory bowel disease encompasses Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis and is characterized by uncontrolled, relapsing, and remitting course of inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. Artificial intelligence represents a new era within the field of gastroenterology, and the amount of research surrounding artificial intelligence in patients with inflammatory bowel disease is on the rise. As clinical trial outcomes and treatment targets evolve in inflammatory bowel disease, artificial intelligence may prove as a valuable tool for providing accurate, consistent, and reproducible evaluations of endoscopic appearance and histologic activity, thereby optimizing the diagnosis process and identifying disease severity. Furthermore, as the applications of artificial intelligence for inflammatory bowel disease continue to expand, they may present an ideal opportunity for improving disease management by predicting treatment response to biologic therapies and for refining the standard of care by setting the basis for future treatment personalization and cost reduction. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the unmet needs in the management of inflammatory bowel disease in clinical practice and how artificial intelligence tools can address these gaps to transform patient care.

Weighted Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis Identifies a Functional Guild and Metabolite Cluster Mediating the Relationship between Mucosal Inflammation and Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet in Ulcerative Colitis

Diet influences the pathogenesis and clinical course of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The Mediterranean diet (MD) is linked to reductions in inflammatory biomarkers and alterations in microbial taxa and metabolites associated with health. We aimed to identify features of the gut microbiome that mediate the relationship between the MD and fecal calprotectin (FCP) in ulcerative colitis (UC). Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was used to identify modules of co-abundant microbial taxa and metabolites correlated with the MD and FCP. The features considered were gut microbial taxa, serum metabolites, dietary components, short-chain fatty acid and bile acid profiles in participants that experienced an increase (n = 13) or decrease in FCP (n = 16) over eight weeks. WGCNA revealed ten modules containing sixteen key features that acted as key mediators between the MD and FCP. Three taxa (Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, Dorea longicatena, Roseburia inulinivorans) and a cluster of four metabolites (benzyl alcohol, 3-hydroxyphenylacetate, 3-4-hydroxyphenylacetate and phenylacetate) demonstrated a strong mediating effect (ACME: -1.23, p = 0.004). This study identified a novel association between diet, inflammation and the gut microbiome, providing new insights into the underlying mechanisms of how a MD may influence IBD. See clinicaltrials.gov (NCT04474561).

The Real-World Global Use of Patient-Reported Outcomes for the Care of Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Background

Many patient-reported outcomes (PROs) have been developed for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) without recommendations for clinical use. PROs differ from physician-reported disease activity indices; they assess patients' perceptions of their symptoms, functional status, mental health, and quality of life, among other areas. We sought to investigate the current global use and barriers to using PROs in clinical practice for IBD.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was performed. An electronic questionnaire was sent to an international group of providers who care for patients with IBD.

Results

There were 194 respondents, including adult/pediatric gastroenterologists, advanced practice providers, and colorectal surgeons from 5 continents. The majority (80%) use PROs in clinical practice, 65% frequently found value in routine use, and 50% frequently found PROs influenced management. Thirty-one different PROs for IBD were reportedly used. Barriers included not being familiar with PROs, not knowing how to incorporate PRO results into clinical practice, lack of electronic medical record integration, and time constraints. Most (91%) agreed it would be beneficial to have an accepted set of consistently used PROs. The majority (60%) thought that there should be some cultural differences in PROs used globally but that PROs for IBD should be consistent around the world.

Conclusions

PROs are used frequently in clinical practice with wide variation in which are used and how they influence management. Education about PROs and how to use and interpret an accepted set of PROs would decrease barriers for use and allow for global harmonization.

Meta-analysis: Placebo rates in microscopic colitis randomised trials and applications for future drug development using a historical control arm

BACKGROUND

Effective medical therapies for patients with microscopic colitis (MC) who fail budesonide are lacking. However, conducting randomised controlled trials (RCTs) in MC has been challenging due to small sample sizes. Understanding placebo responses can help inform more efficient future trials.

AIMS

The aim of this study is to estimate clinical and histologic placebo response rates and to determine factors associated with placebo response in MC.

METHODS

EMBASE, MEDLINE, and CENTRAL were searched until 7 January 2022, to identify placebo-controlled RCTs in adult patients with MC. Clinical and histologic response in the placebo arms were pooled using random-effects models. Stratified analyses based on disease- and trial-level characteristics, leave-one-out meta-analysis, and cumulative meta-analysis were performed.

RESULTS

Twelve RCTs enrolling a total of 391 patients (placebo n = 163) with MC were included. Pooled clinical and histologic placebo response rates were 24.4% (95% CI: 12.4%-38.4%), I²  = 60.8%, p < 0.01, and 19.9% (95% CI: 5.3%-39.0%), I²  = 66.4%, p = 0.01 (tests for heterogeneity), respectively. Clinical response to placebo was numerically higher in patients with lymphocytic compared to collagenous colitis (39.9% vs. 19.8%, p = 0.08). Heterogeneity in clinical response to placebo was significantly reduced when the Miehlke 2014 RCT was excluded in the leave-one-out meta-analysis or when a more stringent secondary definition of response based on the Hjortswang criteria was applied.

CONCLUSIONS

Approximately one-quarter of patients in MC trials respond to placebo, although with substantial heterogeneity, reflecting the need for standardised outcome definitions and study designs for MC. This analysis also serves to inform future MC trials that may consider incorporating an external, historical placebo control arm, rather than directly randomising patients to placebo.

A186 ASSOCIATION OF ULCERATIVE COLITIS BOWEL URGENCY IMPROVEMENT WITH CLINICAL RESPONSE AND REMISSION

Background

Ulcerative colitis (UC) can result in a high prevalence of bowel movement urgency (BU), significantly reducing patient quality of life.

Purpose

Early BU improvement association with later clinical endpoint improvements was examined in moderately-to-severely active UC patients (pts) treated with mirikizumab (miri).

Method

BU was evaluated in Phase 3 randomized placebo (PBO)-controlled 12-week induction (LUCENT-1, NCT03518086) and 40-week maintenance (LUCENT-2, NCT03524092) trials with miri. Pts received IV miri 300mg or PBO during induction. Week (W)12 miri responders were rerandomized at LUCENT-2 baseline (BL) to subcutaneous miri 200mg or PBO. BU was measured with 11-point Urgency Numeric Rating Scale (UNRS) from 0 (no urgency) to 10 (worst possible). Pts’ UNRS scores were an average from 7 consecutive days prior to visit. Association of pts with BU Clinically Meaningful Improvement (CMI) or BU remission between BL and W4 with the proportion of pts achieving clinical response, and clinical, endoscopic, or symptomatic remission at end of W12 was assessed. For pts who achieved clinical response at W12, the analyses were repeated for the end of maintenance based on W12 BU status. Logistic regression models with treatment, urgency (BU CMI or BU Remission), treatment-by-urgency group interaction, and stratification factors were fitted to examine the association between early urgency improvement and later clinical endpoints.

Result(s)

Treatment-by-urgency group interactions were not statistically significant across clinical outcomes for induction and maintenance. For induction, treatment and urgency status were statistically significant. Pts experiencing BU CMI or BU remission at W4 were consistently more likely to achieve clinical response, and clinical, endoscopic, or symptomatic remission at W12 for both treatment groups. For remission, only treatment main effect was statistically significant. Among miri induction clinical responders (an enriched population), BU CMI or BU Remission at end of induction (W12) was not associated with later maintenance efficacy outcomes (W52). Miri-treated pts achieved higher rates of clinical response, and clinical, endoscopic, or symptomatic remission at W52 than with PBO regardless of BU CMI or BU Remission at W12 (Table).

Image

Conclusion(s)

Early BU Improvement, CMI or Remission, was associated with better clinical outcomes during induction for miri and PBO pts, showing BU is a sensitive predictor of early clinical outcomes. Among miri induction responders, miri consistently provided better maintenance of response and remission rates than PBO.

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Eli Lilly and Company

Disclosure of Interest

D. Clemow Employee of: Eli Lilly and Company, C. Sapin Employee of: Eli Lilly and Company, T. Hibi Grant / Research support from: AbbVie, ActivAid, Alfresa Pharma, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly Japan K.K., Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Gilead Sciences, Janssen Pharmaceutical K.K., JMDC, Mochida Pharmaceutical, Nippon Kayaku, Pfizer Japan, and Takeda, Consultant of: AbbVie, Apo Plus Station, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celltrion, EA Pharma, Eli Lilly and Company, Gilead Sciences, Janssen, Kyorin, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma, Nichi-Iko Pharmaceutical, Pfizer, Takeda, and Zeria Pharmaceutical, Speakers bureau of: AbbVie, Aspen Japan K.K., Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Gilead Sciences, Janssen, JIMRO, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma, Mochida Pharmaceutical, Pfizer, and Takeda, M. Dubinsky Shareholder of: Trellus Health, Grant / Research support from: AbbVie, Janssen, Pfizer, and Prometheus Biosciences, Consultant of: AbbVie, Arena Pharmaceuticals, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celgene, Eli Lilly and Company, F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Genentech, Gilead Sciences, Janssen, Pfizer, Prometheus Therapeutics and Diagnostics, Takeda, and UCB Pharma, S. Vermeire Consultant of: AbbVie, Arena Pharmaceuticals, Avaxia Biologics, Boehringer Ingelheim, Celgene, Dr. Falk Pharma, Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Galapagos NV, Genentech/Roche, Gilead Sciences, Hospira, Janssen, Mundipharma, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Pfizer, ProDigest, Progenity, Prometheus Therapeutics and Diagnostics, Robarts Clinical Trials, Second Genome, Shire, Takeda, Theravance Biopharma, and Tillots Pharma AG, Speakers bureau of: AbbVie, Dr. Falk Pharma, Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Galapagos NV, Genentech/Roche, Gilead Sciences, Janssen, Pfizer, Robarts Clinical Trials, and Takeda, S. Schreiber Grant / Research support from: personal fees and/or travel support from: AbbVie, Amgen, Arena Pharmaceuticals, Biogen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celgene, Celltrion, Eli Lilly and Company, Dr. Falk Pharma, Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Fresenius Kabi, Galapagos NV, Gilead Sciences, I-MAB Biopharma, Janssen, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Mylan, Novartis, Pfizer, Protagonist Therapeutics, Provention Bio, Roche, Sandoz/Hexal, Shire, Takeda, Theravance Biopharma, and UCB Pharma, T. Gibble Employee of: Eli Lilly and Company, L. Peyrin-Biroulet Grant / Research support from: AbbVie, Fresenius Kabi, Merck Sharp & Dohme, and Takeda, Consultant of: AbbVie, Alimentiv, Allergan, Amgen, Arena Pharmaceuticals, Biogen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celgene, Celltrion, Eli Lilly and Company, Enthera, Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Fresenius Kabi, Galapagos NV, Genentech, Gilead Sciences, Gossamer Bio, InDex Pharmaceuticals, Inotrem, Janssen, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Mylan, Norgine, Ono Pharmaceutical, OSE Immunotherapeutics, Pandion Therapeutics, Pfizer, Roche, Samsung Bioepis, Sandoz, Takeda, Theravance Biopharma, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Tillots Pharma AG, Viatris, and Vifor Pharma, M. Watanabe Grant / Research support from: AbbVie, Alfresa Pharma, EA Pharma, Kissei, Kyorin, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma, Mochida Pharmaceutical, Nippon Kayaku, Takeda, and Zeria Pharmaceutical, Consultant of: AbbVie, Boehringer Ingelheim, EA Pharma, Eli Lilly Japan K.K., Gilead Sciences, Nippon, and Takeda, Speakers bureau of: EA Pharma, Eli Lilly Japan K.K., Gilead Sciences, Janssen, JIMRO, Kissei, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma, Mochida Pharmaceutical, Pfizer Japan, Takeda, and Zeria Pharmaceutical, R. Panaccione Grant / Research support from: AbbVie, Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Janssen, Pfizer, and Takeda, Consultant of: Abbott, AbbVie, Alimentiv, Amgen, Arena Pharmaceuticals, AstraZeneca, Biogen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celgene, Celltrion, Cosmo Pharmaceuticals, Eisai, Elan Pharma, Eli Lilly and Company, Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Galapagos NV, Genentech, Gilead Sciences, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen, Merck, Mylan, Oppilan Pharma, Pandion Therapeutics, Pfizer, Progenity, Protagonist Therapeutics, Roche, Sandoz, Satisfai Health, Shire, Sublimity Therapeutics, Takeda, Theravance Biopharma, and UCB Pharma, J. Jones: None Declared

A180 PLACEBO RATES IN MICROSCOPIC COLITIS RANDOMIZED TRIALS: APPLICATIONS FOR FUTURE DRUG DEVELOPMENT USING A HISTORICAL CONTROL ARM

Background

There remains a need to develop effective medical therapies for patients with microscopic colitis (MC) who do not respond, are intolerant, or relapse on budesonide. Conducting randomized trials in MC is logistically and ethically challenging: budesonide is highly effective, and therefore, some institutional review boards have not allowed trials that randomize MC patients to placebo. However, comparing an investigational drug to budesonide is statistically infeasible: powering a non-inferiority study against a budesonide comparator arm with 90% power for a 10% non-inferiority margin would require over 700 subjects, yet fewer than 400 patients have been randomized in all historical MC trials. Therefore, alternative trial designs should be explored in MC, including the use of a historical control arm.

Purpose

To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the proportion of placebo responders in MC trials that will inform future trials using a historical placebo comparator, and evaluate factors associated with placebo response.

Method

EMBASE, MEDLINE, and CENTRAL were searched from inception to January 7, 2022, and supplemented with conference abstracts to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) using a placebo comparator in adult patients with confirmed MC (either lymphocytic, collagenous, or mixed populations but excluding incomplete MC). The proportion of clinical and histologic responders in the placebo arms were pooled using random-effect models, statistical heterogeneity was evaluated using the I2 method, and the Freeman-Tukey double arcsine transformation was used to compute 95% confidence intervals (CI) using the score statistic and exact binomial method. All analyses were conducted in Stata 17.0.

Result(s)

Twelve placebo controlled RCTs were included, evaluating a total of 391 patients (163 randomized to placebo). The pooled placebo clinical response rate was 24.4% [95% CI 12.4%, 38.4%] (Figure 1), with substantial heterogeneity (I2=60.8%, p<0.01). The pooled histologic response rate was 19.9% [95% CI: 5.3%, 39.0%], with substantial heterogeneity (I2=66.4%, p<0.01). Subgroup analysis demonstrated higher placebo responses in lymphocytic colitis (39.9% [95% CI: 23.9%, 56.7%]) compared to collagenous colitis (19.8% [95% CI: 5.9%, 37.8%]), but not by allowance of baseline anti-diarrheals. Leave-one-out meta-analysis showed a reduction in heterogeneity after removal of Miehlke et al. 2014 (placebo response 21.0% [95% CI: 11.5%, 32.1%], I2=28.6%, p=0.17).

Image

Conclusion(s)

Approximately 1 in 4 patients in MC trials will respond clinically to placebo and 1 in 5 will demonstrate a histologic response, although with substantial heterogeneity. T his highlights the need for standardized outcome definitions in MC trials and can serve to inform a Bayesian prior estimate for future trials that may consider using a historical placebo comparator.

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None

Disclosure of Interest

P. Hamilton: None Declared, K. Buhler: None Declared, G. Kaplan Grant / Research support from: Ferring, Janssen, AbbVie, GlaxoSmith Kline, Merck, and Shire, Consultant of: AbbVie, Janssen, Pfizer, Amgen, Takeda, and Gilead, C. Lu Consultant of: Abbvie, Janssen, Ferring, and Takeda, Speakers bureau of: Janssen and Abbvie, C. Seow Consultant of: Advisory Boards: Janssen, Abbvie, Takeda, Ferring, Shire, Pfizer, Sandoz, Pharmascience, Fresenius Kabi, Amgen, Speakers bureau of: Janssen, Abbvie, Takeda, Ferring, Shire, Pfizer, Pharmascience, K. Novak Grant / Research support from: AbbVie and Janssen, Consultant of: Advisory board fees from AbbVie, Janssen, Pfizer, Ferring, and Takeda, speaker’s fees from AbbVie, Janssen, and Pfizer, R. Panaccione Consultant of: Abbott, AbbVie, Alimentiv (formerly Robarts), Amgen, Arena Pharmaceuticals, AstraZeneca, Biogen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene, Celltrion, Cosmos Pharmaceuticals, Eisai, Elan, Eli Lilly, Ferring, Galapagos, Fresenius Kabi, Genentech, Gilead Sciences, Glaxo-Smith Kline, JAMP Bio, Janssen, Merck, Mylan, Novartis, Oppilan Pharma, Organon, Pandion Pharma, Pendopharm, Pfizer, Progenity, Protagonist Therapeutics, Roche, Sandoz, Satisfai Health, Shire, Sublimity Therapeutics, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Theravance Biopharma, Trellus, Viatris, UCB. Advisory Boards for: AbbVie, Alimentiv (formerly Robarts), Amgen, Arena Pharmaceuticals, AstraZeneca, Biogen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Ferring, Fresenius Kabi, Genentech, Gilead Sciences, Glaxo-Smith Kline, JAMP Bio, Janssen, Merck, Mylan, Novartis, Oppilan Pharma, Organon, Pandion Pharma, Pfizer, Progenity, Protagonist Therapeutics, Roche, SandozShire, Sublimity Therapeutics, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Speakers bureau of: AbbVie, Amgen, Arena Pharmaceuticals, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Ferring, Fresenius Kabi, Gilead Sciences, Janssen, Merck, Organon, Pfizer, Roche, Sandoz, Shire, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, C. Ma Grant / Research support from: Ferring, Pfizer, Consultant of: AbbVie, Alimentiv, American College of Gastroenterology, Amgen, AVIR Pharma Inc, BioJAMP, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celltrion, Ferring, Fresenius Kabi, Janssen, McKesson, Mylan, Sanofi/Regeneron, Takeda, Pendopharm, Pfizer, Roche, Speakers bureau of: : AbbVie, Amgen, AVIR Pharma Inc, Alimentiv, Bristol Myers Squibb, Ferring, Fresenius Kabi, Janssen, Takeda, Pendopharm, and Pfizer

A192 EFFICACY OF USTEKINUMAB IN SMALL BOWEL STRICTURES OF FIBROSTENOTIC CROHN'S DISEASE AS ASSESSED BY INTESTINAL ULTRASOUND

Background

Small bowel Crohn’s disease (CD) strictures can lead to debilitating obstructive symptoms and the deterioration of quality of life. Imaging modalities such as intestinal ultrasound (IUS) are invaluable in the diagnosis of strictures. The use of IUS in CD is rapidly growing, is cost-effective, easily repeatable, and similar in accuracy to magnetic resonance enterography. Evidence for medical management of fibrostenotic CD has been limited to anti-tumor necrosis factor biologics. Studies on the efficacy of other biologic therapies for strictures such as ustekinumab, a p40/interleukin 12 and 23 inhibitor, are lacking.

Purpose

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of ustekinumab in the treatment of small bowel strictures on IUS.

Method

This retrospective cohort study evaluated the IUS changes of terminal ileal (TI) CD strictures at baseline and 12 months following ustekinumab initiation from 2016 to 2020 at a single tertiary care center. Strictures identified were defined as 1) increased bowel wall thickness (BWT) > 3mm, 2) narrowed luminal apposition, and 3) presence of pre-stenotic dilation (PSD) or the inability to pass the colonoscope through the narrowed area. Changes in sonographic parameters (BWT, luminal size, PSD, length, hyperemia, inflammatory fat, dysfunctional peristalsis) were recorded at baseline prior to initiation of ustekinumab and compared 12 months after treatment. Differences from baseline to 12 months were paired within-person and statistical analysis was performed using paired T-tests for continuous variables and McNemar’s test for categorical variables.

Result(s)

Of the 18 patients identified, 55% (n = 10) were male, median age was 49 years (Q1-Q3: 33-63 years) at initial scan, with median CD duration of 10 years (Q1-Q3: 8-20 years). The majority of TI strictures were surgically naïve (67%, n = 12). Between pre- and 12-month post ustekinumab therapy scans, there was significant improvement in BWT [8.2 mm vs 7.2 mm, p = 0.048], however there was no significant difference in the presence of peri-enteric inflammatory fat (p = 0.10), mean stricture length (17.7 vs 21.7 cm, p = 0.18), and mean stricture lumen diameter (3.3 mm vs 2.7 mm, p = 0.44) (Table 1). There was also no significant difference in the presence of stricture-associated peri-enteric fat (89% vs 67%, p = 0.10), stricture-associated hyperemia (83% vs 89%, p = 0.65) or dysfunctional peristalsis (50% vs 61%, p = 0.41) (Table 1).

Image

Conclusion(s)

Our study is the first to report the efficacy of ustekinumab in small bowel CD strictures using IUS at baseline and 12 months. This study shows that although ustekinumab leads to improvement in overall sonographic appearance of bowel thickness, it does not improve luminal narrowing nor PSD, two hallmark criteria of fibrostenosis. More extensive studies with larger sample sizes evaluating ustekinumab, or combination therapies, are required to identify their role in stricturing CD.

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None

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared

A170 ADVERSE EVENTS & SEROLOGICAL RESPONSES FOLLOWING SARS-COV-2 VACCINATION IN INDIVIDUALS WITH INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE

Background

The rapid development and distribution of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines has raised concerns surrounding vaccine safety in immunocompromised populations, such as those with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Purpose

We described adverse events (AEs) following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in those with IBD and determined relationships between AEs to post-vaccination antibody titres.

Method

Individuals with IBD from a prospective cohort in Calgary, Canada (n=670) who received a 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, and/or 4^th dose of a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and/or AstraZeneca) were interviewed via telephone for AEs using the Adverse Events Following Immunization form. Subsequently, we assessed injection site reaction as a specific AE outcome. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to assess the association between anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike protein antibody (anti-S) levels within 1–12 weeks of vaccination and injection site reaction following 1st, 2nd, and 3rd dose vaccination. Models were adjusted for age, sex, IBD type, IBD medications, vaccine type, and prior COVID-19 infection. Additionally, we evaluated the risk of flare of IBD within 30 days of vaccination via chart review.

Result(s)

Table 1 describes AEs in individuals with IBD following 1^st dose (n=331), 2^nd dose (n=331), 3^rd dose (n=195), and 4^th dose (n=100) of a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. AEs were reported in 83.3% of participants after 1^st dose, 79.1% after 2^nd dose, 77.4% after 3^rd dose, and 67.0% after 4^th dose. Injection site reaction (pain, redness, etc.) was the most common AE (50.8% of AEs), with fatigue and malaise (18.1%), headache and migraine (8.6%), musculoskeletal discomfort (8.2%), and fever and chills (6.5%) also commonly reported. Multivariable logistic regression determined no associations between anti-S concentration and injection site reaction for all doses. Age above 65 years was associated with decreased injection site reaction following 1^st and 3^rd doses, while female sex and mRNA vaccine type were associated with increased injection site reaction following 1^st and 2^nd doses. Prior COVID-19 infection, IBD type, and medication class were not associated with injection site reaction with any dose. Only one participant was diagnosed with a severe AE requiring hospitalization: Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) following 2^nd dose of a Pfizer vaccination. No cases of IBD flare occurred within 30 days of vaccination.

Image

Conclusion(s)

AEs following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination are generally mild and become less common with each consecutive dose. Antibody levels following each dose of the vaccine were not associated with injection site reactions. Females, those under 65 years of age, and those administered mRNA vaccines were more likely to experience an injection site reaction. Prior COVID-19 infection, IBD type, and IBD medication class did not predict injection site reactions. Vaccination was not associated with IBD flare within 30 days of vaccination.

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Other

Please indicate your source of funding;

Helmsley

Disclosure of Interest

A. Markovinovic: None Declared, M. Herauf: None Declared, J. Quan: None Declared, L. Hracs: None Declared, J. Windsor: None Declared, N. Sharifi: None Declared, S. Coward: None Declared, L. Caplan: None Declared, J. Gorospe: None Declared, C. Ma Grant / Research support from: Ferring, Pfizer, , Consultant of: AbbVie, Alimentiv, Amgen, Ferring, Pfizer, Takeda, , Speakers bureau of: AbbVie, Alimentiv, Amgen, Ferring, Pfizer, Takeda, R. Panaccione Grant / Research support from: AbbVie, Ferring, Janssen, Pfizer, Takeda, Consultant of: Abbott, AbbVie, Alimentiv, Amgen, Arena, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celgene, Celltrion, Cosmos Pharmaceuticals, Eisai, Elan, Eli Lilly, Ferring, Galapagos, Genentech, Gilead Sciences, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen, Merck, Mylan, Oppilan Pharma, Pandion Therapeutics, Pandion Pharma, Pfizer, Progenity, Protagonist, Roche, Sandoz, Satisfai Health, Schering-Plough, Shire, Sublimity Therapeutics, Takeda, Theravance, UCB, Speakers bureau of: AbbVie, Arena, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Ferring, Gilead Sciences, Janssen, Merck, Pfizer, Roche, Sandoz, Shire, Takeda, R. Ingram: None Declared, J. Kanji: None Declared, G. Tipples: None Declared, J. Holodinsky: None Declared, C. Berstein Grant / Research support from: AbbVie, Amgen, Janssen, Pfizer, Takeda, Speakers bureau of: AbbVie, Janssen, Pfizer, Takeda, D. Mahoney: None Declared, S. Bernatsky: None Declared, E. Benchimol: None Declared, G. Kaplan Grant / Research support from: Ferring, Speakers bureau of: AbbVie, Janssen, Pfizer

A107 VISCERAL ADIPOSE TISSUE VOLUME DIFFERENTIATES BETWEEN FIBROSTENOTIC AND INFLAMMATORY CROHN’S DISEASE

Background

Creeping fat, a form of visceral adipose tissue (VAT) that wraps the intestinal wall, influences the formation of Crohn’s disease (CD) strictures. The degree of fat wrapping from intestinal stricture resections is correlated with the extent of chronic inflammation, fibrosis, stricture formation, and response to biologic therapy. VAT and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) ratios from CTE (computed tomography) scans are elevated in CD strictures. However, the definition of strictures in these studies has been poorly defined and not included current well-recognized criteria: 1) bowel wall thickness (BWT), 2) narrowed luminal diameter, and 3) pre-stenotic dilation. (PSD).

Purpose

The objective of this pilot study was to assess the relationship of 2D and 3D VAT:SAT ratios with CT stricture parameters in patients with terminal ileal (TI) CD strictures.

Method

2D VAT:SAT ratios from CT’s of CD patients with TI strictures defined as increased BWT, narrowed luminal diameter (< 50% relative to normal adjacent distended loop), and PSD greater than the stricture diameter were retrospectively obtained from a database and chart review. CT’s from fibrostenotic CD patients were sex and BMI matched to patients with only TI inflammatory behaviour. Patient demographics, medication, smoking, and surgical history were also obtained. Analyses were adjusted for age, sex, and BMI covariates. Unpaired t-tests and multi-variable logistic regression analyses were conducted.

Result(s)

Twenty-eight patients with stricturing CD had a significantly greater mean VAT:SAT volume ratio than 29 non-stricturing CD (41.5 cm³ vs 34.2 cm³, p=0.03). Thirty-six percent (10/28) of CD stricture patients had prior ileocolic resection with a mean disease duration of 13.5 years (range 0-48). The median ileal BWT (7.0 mm, range 4.0-13.0 mm) for the stricturing group was significantly greater than those with inflammatory behaviour (BWT 2.0 mm, p<0.0001). The median luminal diameter and PSD for the stricture group was 2.0 mm (range 0 - 14.0 mm), and 3.0 cm (range 1.0 - 7.3 cm), respectively.

Image

Conclusion(s)

Fibrostenotic TI CD patients have increased VAT:SAT ratios in comparison to those with only inflammatory behaviour. These pilot VAT:SAT results provide an initial foundation for further studies to assess its predictive role in responsiveness of medical or surgical therapies in stricturing CD.

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None

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared

A4 PREDNISOLONE, A GLUCOCORTICOID WIDELY USED FOR TREATMENT OF IBD, ENHANCES A HUMAN INTERLEUKIN-4-ACTIVATED MACROPHAGE PHENOTYPE

Background

With cellular immunotherapy, the individuals’ medication could ablate (or enhance) any therapeutic benefit of the transferred cells. Murine and human macrophages activated with IL-4 (i.e., M(IL4)) improve wound healing and reduce the severity of disease in murine models of colitis. Advancing the position that autologous M(IL4) could be a novel approach to IBD, a critical question arises: will concurrent medication impact the M(IL4)s anti-colitic effect? To address this, we tested if prednisolone, a synthetic, anti-inflammatory glucocorticoid used to induce remission in IBD flares,impacts human M(IL4) phenotype and function.

Purpose

To determine if prednisolone suppresses or enhances a human M(IL4) phenotype as defined by canonical marker molecules and wound healing and anti-colitic activities.

Method

Macrophages were differentiated from the blood monocytes of healthy volunteers using M-CSF (7 days) and treated with GMP-grade IL-4 (10 ng/mL, 48h) ± a 24h treatment with prednisolone (1μg/mL). Subsequently, conditioned medium was collected for TGFb measurement by ELISA and for use in a T84 epithelial cell in vitro wound healing assay. Retrieved M(IL4) and M(IL4,pred.) were characterized by mRNA expression of CD206 (mannose receptor), RAMP1 (CGRP receptor), and CD14 (LPS co-receptor). One million murine bone marrow-derived M(IL4) or M(IL4,pred.) were injected into BALB/c mice 48h prior to intra-rectal DNBS (3mg), and colitis was assessed 72h-post DNBS.

Result(s)

Human M(IL4)s displayed increased mRNA expression of CD206 and RAMP1, and reduced CD14 compared to M(0), with the CD206 and RAMP1 being further increased by prednisolone treatment. M(IL4,pred.) produced more TGF-β than M(IL4) upon LPS stimulation [363 ± 30 vs. 241 ± 24 pg/ml, n= 4, p<0.05], which would predict an enhanced wound healing capacity. Stimulated M(IL4,pred.) produced more IL-10 than M(IL4). Furthermore, murine M(IL4,pred.) retained an anti-colitic capacity comparable to M(IL4) as determined by disease activity score in the DNBS model.

Conclusion(s)

Human M(IL4)s subsequently exposed to the potent immunomodulatory glucocorticoid, prednisolone show increased expression of phenotypic markers and increased output of TGFb and IL-10. Crucially M(IL4,pred.) retained an anti-colic effect in the murine DNBS model of colitis. Interpreting these data, we suggest that the anti-colitic effect of M(IL4) immunotherapy would not be adversely offset by the individuals concomitant use of steroids. Our preliminary findings support pursuing M(IL4) transfers as a novel approach to the management of IBD.

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Other

Please indicate your source of funding;

Helmsley Charitable Trust

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared

A190 THE IMPACT OF BOWEL URGENCY ON THE LIVES OF PATIENTS WITH ULCERATIVE COLITIS IN THE US AND EUROPE: COMMUNICATING NEEDS AND FEATURES OF IBD EXPERIENCES (CONFIDE) SURVEY

Background

Moderate to severe ulcerative colitis (UC) exerts a significant burden on patients’ lives. Patients with UC report that bowel urgency has a substantial negative impact on their quality of life and psychosocial functioning, however, this symptom is missing from most disease activity indices.

Purpose

The Communicating Needs and Features of IBD Experiences (CONFIDE) study aims to increase understanding of the impact of symptoms, including bowel urgency, on the lives of patients (pts) with moderate to severe UC and Crohn’s disease in the United States (US), Europe (EUR), and Japan. These data focus on pts in the US and EUR.

Method

Online, quantitative, cross-sectional surveys of pts with moderate to severe UC were conducted in the US and EUR (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and UK). Data included pt perspectives on their UC symptoms and the impact on their daily lives. Moderate to severe UC was defined based on treatment, steroid use, and/or hospitalization history. Descriptive statistics summarise the data.

Result(s)

200 US pts (62% male, mean age 40.4 years) and 556 EUR pts (57% male, mean age 38.9 years) completed the survey, with 77% and 54% currently receiving advanced therapies (biologic or novel oral therapy), respectively. The top 3 symptoms currently (past month) experienced by US and EUR pts were diarrhoea (63% and 50%), bowel urgency (47% and 30%) and increased stool frequency (39% and 30%). In past 3 months, pts who have ever experienced bowel urgency or urge incontinence reported bowel urgency (93% US, 89% EUR) and urge incontinence (86% US, 71% EUR) at least once a month (Table). 69% and 65% of all US and EUR pts, respectively, reported wearing a diaper/pad/protection at least once a month in the past 3 months due to fear/anticipation of urge incontinence. For pts receiving advanced therapies, similar patterns were observed. Among both US and EUR pts, the most common UC-related reasons for declining participation in social events were bowel urgency (43% and 30%) and fear of urge incontinence (40% and 32%). Similarly, the most common reasons for declining participation in work/school and sports/physical exercise were bowel urgency and fear of urge incontinence.

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Conclusion(s)

Bowel urgency, which was the second-most frequently reported symptom, has an extensive impact on the lives of pts with moderate to severe UC. In this younger pt population, including pts receiving advanced therapies, almost two thirds of US and EUR pts reported wearing diapers/pads/protection at least once a month in the past 3 months due to fear/anticipation of urge incontinence. Both US and EUR pts reported bowel urgency and fear of urge incontinence as the top reasons for declining participation in social events, work/school, and sports/physical exercise.

Please acknowledge all funding agencies by checking the applicable boxes below

Other

Please indicate your source of funding;

Eli Lilly and Company

Disclosure of Interest

S. Schreiber Grant / Research support from: personal fees and/or travel support from: AbbVie, Amgen, Arena Pharmaceuticals, Biogen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celgene, Celltrion, Eli Lilly and Company, Dr. Falk Pharma, Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Fresenius Kabi, Galapagos NV, Gilead Sciences, I-MAB Biopharma, Janssen, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Mylan, Novartis, Pfizer, Protagonist Therapeutics, Provention Bio, Roche, Sandoz/Hexal, Shire, Takeda, Theravance Biopharma, and UCB Pharma, A. Bleakman Employee of: Eli Lilly and Company, M. Dubinsky Shareholder of: Trellus Health, Grant / Research support from: AbbVie, Janssen, Pfizer, and Prometheus Biosciences, Consultant of: AbbVie, Arena Pharmaceuticals, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celgene, Eli Lilly and Company, F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Genentech, Gilead Sciences, Janssen, Pfizer, Prometheus Therapeutics and Diagnostics, Takeda, and UCB Pharma, D. Rubin Grant / Research support from: Takeda, Consultant of: AbbVie, Allergan, AltruBio, American College of Gastroenterology, Arena Pharmaceuticals, Athos Therapeutics, Bellatrix Pharmaceuticals, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celgene/Syneos Health, Cornerstones Health (non-profit), Eli Lilly and Company, Galen/Atlantica, Genentech/Roche, Gilead Sciences, GoDuRn, InDex Pharmaceuticals, Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Iterative Scopes, Janssen, Materia Prima, Pfizer, Prometheus Therapeutics and Diagnostics, Reistone Biopharma, Takeda, and TechLab, T. Hibi Grant / Research support from: AbbVie, Activaid, Alfresa Pharma, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly Japan K.K., Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Gilead Sciences, Janssen Pharmaceutical K.K., JMDC, Nippon Kayaku, Mochida Pharmaceutical, Pfizer Japan, and Takeda, Consultant of: AbbVie, Apo Plus Station, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celltrion, EA Pharma, Eli Lilly and Company, Gilead Sciences, Janssen, Kyorin, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma, Nichi-Iko Pharmaceutical, Pfizer, Takeda, and Zeria Pharmaceutical, Speakers bureau of: AbbVie, Aspen Japan K.K., Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Gilead Sciences, Janssen, JIMRO, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma, Mochida Pharmaceutical, Pfizer, and Takeda, R. Panaccione Grant / Research support from: AbbVie, Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Janssen, Pfizer, and Takeda, Consultant of: Abbott, AbbVie, Alimentiv, Amgen, Arena Pharmaceuticals, AstraZeneca, Biogen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celgene, Celltrion, Cosmo Pharmaceuticals, Eisai, Elan Pharma, Eli Lilly and Company, Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Galapagos NV, Genentech, Gilead Sciences, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen, Merck, Mylan, Oppilan Pharma, Pandion Therapeutics, Pfizer, Progenity, Protagonist Therapeutics, Roche, Sandoz, Satisfai Health, Shire, Sublimity Therapeutics, Takeda, Theravance Biopharma, and UCB Pharma, T. Gibble Employee of: Eli Lilly and Company, C. Kayhan Employee of: Eli Lilly and Company, E. Flynn Employee of: Eli Lilly and Company, C. Sapin Employee of: Eli Lilly and Company, C. Atkinson Consultant of: Eli Lilly and Company in connection with the development of this publication, Employee of: Adelphi Real World, S. Travis Grant / Research support from: AbbVie, BUHLMANN Diagnostics, ECCO, Eli Lilly and Company, Ferring Pharmaceuticals, International Organization for the Study of Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Janssen, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Normal Collision Foundation, Pfizer, Procter & Gamble, Schering-Plough, Takeda, UCB Pharma, Vifor Pharma, and Warner Chilcott, J. Jones: None Declared

A193 DEMOGRAPHIC, SOCIAL AND OCCUPATIONAL FACTORS THAT PREVENTED EXPOSURE TO SARS-COV-2 IN INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE PATIENTS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC: A PROSPECTIVE COHORT STUDY

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus is a rapidly evolving public health emergency in which mundane behaviors such as grocery shopping or restaurant dining are considered high-risk for some, such as persons with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) who are often immunodeficient due to medications. Research on the behavioral exposures experienced by populations with IBD during the COVID-19 pandemic are lacking.

Purpose

We aim to better understand how the behaviors of persons with IBD are associated with COVID-19 diagnoses.

Method

We conducted a prospective serosurveillance cohort study in Calgary to assess exposure to SARS-CoV-2 from Nov. 1, 2020 to Aug. 8, 2022 in 485 individuals with IBD. A diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 was defined as a molecular-confirmed PCR test, a self-report home antigen test, or a positive nucleocapsid antibody level. Participants completed a self-report electronic questionnaire on social and occupational risk activities stratified across two time periods: Jan. 2020 to Mar. 2020 (before lockdown) and post-Jun. 2020 (post lockdown). Univariate analyses (χ² and Fischer’s exact if n≤5) were performed on social activities that occurred following the lockdown among those with IBD who were and were not diagnosed with COVID-19. Occupational exposures were compared across essential workers (EW) (i.e., frontline workers at high risk of COVID) and non-EWs.

Result(s)

Overall, 37.5% (n=182) of our cohort was diagnosed with COVID-19. Seniors were less likely to be infected with COVID-19 (22.7%) compared to those under the age of 65 (40.8%) (p=0.002). A greater proportion of females (42.6 %) compared to males (32.5%) were COVID positive (p=0.02). Those with Crohn’s disease (38.3%) were as likely to test positive for COVID-19 as those with ulcerative colitis (36%) (p=0.65). COVID positive patients were less likely to have 4 vaccine doses (28.5%) compared to those who tested negative (71.5%) (p=0.4).

Statistically significant decreases (p<0.001) in engagement post-Jun. 2020 were observed for: bar use (11.6% to 2.1%), visiting a friend (44.5% to 15.2%), having visitors over (38.7% to 12.1%), restaurant dining (38% to 9%), indoor fitness (31.9% to 8.4%), and transit use (11% to 1.3%). There was an increase in regular use of outdoor fitness (31.9% to 67.1%, p<0.003).

Persons with IBD who tested positive for COVID-19 were more likely to regularly dine in a restaurant (16.8% vs. 4.7% for COVID negative, p<0.001), engage in indoor fitness activities (14% vs. 5.1%, p<0.001), and travel outside Calgary (21% vs. 11.2%, p=0.004) post-lockdown.

Post-lockdown, a greater proportion of EW were COVID positive (50.4%) compared to non-EW (38.6%) (p=0.04).

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Conclusion(s)

Over a two-year period, two-thirds of our cohort did not test positive for COVID-19. Those with IBD who avoided COVID tended to be older, male, have 4 doses of vaccine, and reduce their risk of exposure through social and occupational modifications, perhaps in response to public health guidance.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared

A35 FORECASTING THE INCIDENCE AND PREVALENCE OF INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE: A CANADIAN NATION-WIDE ANALYSIS

Background

Canada is currently in the third epidemiological stage in the evolution of IBD: compounding prevalence. A high incidence of IBD, in conjunction with low mortality, leads to a steadily rising prevalence over time. By understanding historical epidemiological trends, we can forecast incidence and prevalence into the future to inform healthcare systems in Canada of the rising burden of IBD to society.

Purpose

To analyze past epidemiological trends in order to forecast the overall incidence and prevalence of IBD, Crohn’s disease (CD), and ulcerative colitis (UC) and stratified by age (<18, 18-64, 65+).

Method

Canadian population-based administrative data was acquired from: AB, BC, SK, MB, QC, and ON. Data were age and sex standardized to the matching year and provincial data aggregated into a representative sample of the Canadian population for prevalence (2002-2014) and incidence (2007-2014: 5-year washout period). Incidence and prevalence (per 100,000 persons) were calculated, with 95% confidence intervals (CI), using Canadian population estimates from Statistics Canada for IBD, CD, UC (IBD-unclassifiable+UC). Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average models were created, and rates forecasted from 2014 to 2035 with 95% prediction intervals (PI). Poisson (or negative binomial) for incidence and log binomial regression for prevalence estimated the Average Annual Percentage Change (AAPC), with 95% CIs, of the forecasted data.

Result(s)

The 2014 incidence of IBD in Canada was 28.4 per 100,000 (95%CI: 27.8, 29.0) and forecasted to significantly increase (AAPC: 0.58%; 95%CI: 0.04, 1.04) from 30.0 per 100,000 in 2023 to 32.1 (95%PI: 27.9, 36.3) in 2035. Pediatric onset IBD was 13.9 per 100,000 (95%CI: 13.0, 14.9) in 2014 and is forecasted to significantly increase to 18.0 per 100,000 (95%PI: 15.7, 20.2) in 2035 with an AAPC of 1.23% (95%CI: 0.76, 1.63). Adult and elderly onset incidence rates were forecasted to remain stable. Prevalence of IBD increased between 2002 (389 per 100,000) and 2014 (636 per 100,000) and is forecasted to continue to climb by an AAPC of 2.44% (95%CI: 2.34, 2.53). In 2023, the prevalence of IBD is 825 per 100,000. By 2035 prevalence is forecasted to climb to 1075 per 100,000 (95%PI: 1047, 1103) with 470,000 Canadians living with IBD. Prevalence across all age strata were forecasted to significantly increase. The highest AAPC was seen in the elderly (2.76%; 95%CI: 2.73, 2.79) with a prevalence of 841 per 100,000 (95%CI: 834, 849) in 2014 and forecasted to climb to 1534 per 100,000 (95%PI: 1519, 1550) in 2035.

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Conclusion(s)

Incidence of IBD continues to rise in Canada, driven by pediatric-onset IBD. In 2023, over 320,000 Canadians (0.83%) will be living with IBD. By 2035 prevalence will exceed 1% of the population with approximately 470,000 individuals in Canada with IBD. Future research should establish the environmental determinates of IBD that may influence temporal trends in the incidence of IBD, while healthcare systems adapt to the compounding prevalence of IBD.

Please acknowledge all funding agencies by checking the applicable boxes below

CIHR, Other

Please indicate your source of funding;

The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust

Disclosure of Interest

S. Coward: None Declared, E. Benchimol Consultant of: Hoffman La-Roche Limited and Peabody & Arnold LLP for matters unrelated to medications used to treat inflammatory bowel disease and McKesson Canada and the Dairy Farmers of Ontario for matters unrelated to medications used to treat inflammatory bowel disease., C. Bernstein Grant / Research support from: Unrestricted educational grants from Abbvie Canada, Janssen Canada, Pfizer Canada, Bristol Myers Squibb Canada, and Takeda Canada. Has received research grants from Abbvie Canada, Amgen Canada, Pfizer Canada, and Sandoz Canada and contract grants from Janssen, Abbvie and Pfizer, Consultant of: Abbvie Canada, Amgen Canada, Bristol Myers Squibb Canada, JAMP Pharmaceuticals, Janssen Canada, Pfizer Canada, Sandoz Canada, and Takeda., Speakers bureau of: Abbvie Canada, Janssen Canada, Pfizer Canada and Takeda Canada, J. A. Avina-Zubieta: None Declared, A. Bitton: None Declared, L. Hracs: None Declared, J. Jones Consultant of: Janssen, Abbvie, Pfizer, Takeda, Speakers bureau of: Janssen, Abbvie, Pfizer, Takeda, E. Kuenzig: None Declared, L. Lu: None Declared, S. Murthy: None Declared, Z. Nugent: None Declared, A. Otley Grant / Research support from: Unrestricted educational grants from AbbVie Canada and Janssen Canada, Consultant of: Advisory boards of AbbVie Canada, Janssen Canada and Nestle, R. Panaccione Consultant of: Abbott, AbbVie, Alimentiv (formerly Robarts), Amgen, Arena Pharmaceuticals, AstraZeneca, Biogen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene, Celltrion, Cosmos Pharmaceuticals, Eisai, Elan, Eli Lilly, Ferring, Galapagos, Fresenius Kabi, Genentech, Gilead Sciences, Glaxo-Smith Kline, JAMP Bio, Janssen, Merck, Mylan, Novartis, Oppilan Pharma, Organon, Pandion Pharma, Pendopharm, Pfizer, Progenity, Protagonist Therapeutics, Roche, Sandoz, Satisfai Health, Shire, Sublimity Therapeutics, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Theravance Biopharma, Trellus, Viatris, UCB. Advisory Boards for: AbbVie, Alimentiv (formerly Robarts), Amgen, Arena Pharmaceuticals, AstraZeneca, Biogen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Ferring, Fresenius Kabi, Genentech, Gilead Sciences, Glaxo-Smith Kline, JAMP Bio, Janssen, Merck, Mylan, Novartis, Oppilan Pharma, Organon, Pandion Pharma, Pfizer, Progenity, Protagonist Therapeutics, Roche, Sandoz Shire, Sublimity Therapeutics, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Speakers bureau of: AbbVie, Amgen, Arena Pharmaceuticals, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Ferring, Fresenius Kabi, Gilead Sciences, Janssen, Merck, Organon, Pfizer, Roche, Sandoz, Shire, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, J.-N. Pena-Sanchez: None Declared, H. Singh Consultant of: Pendopharm, Amgen Canada, Bristol Myers Squibb Canada, Roche Canada, Sandoz Canada, Takeda Canada, and Guardant Health, Inc., L. Targownik Grant / Research support from: Investigator initiated funding from Janssen Canada, Consultant of: [Advisory board] AbbVie Canada, Takeda Canada, Merck Canada, Pfizer Canada, Janssen Canada, Roche Canada, and Sandoz Canada, J. Windsor: None Declared, G. Kaplan Grant / Research support from: Ferring, Janssen, AbbVie, GlaxoSmith Kline, Merck, and Shire, Consultant of: Gilead, Speakers bureau of: AbbVie, Janssen, Pfizer, Amgen, and Takeda