Abstract
Background
Ustekinumab (UST) is approved for the treatment of adults with moderate to severe Crohn’s disease (CD). The objective of this study was to evaluate the pharmacokinetics (PK), safety, and efficacy of UST in paediatric patients with moderately to severely active CD who had failed treatment with corticosteroids (CS) and/or immunomodulators (IM) and/or anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) therapies. Here, we report the safety and efficacy results through Week 16; PK results are reported separately.
Methods
This was a Phase 1, multicentre, 16-week, double-blind induction dose-ranging study (NCT02968108) in patients aged 2 to <18 years (body weight [BW] ≥10 kg) with a Paediatric CD Activity Index (PCDAI) score >30 and at least an abnormal C-reactive protein >3.0 mg/l or faecal calprotectin >250 µg/g), or ulcerations in the ileum or colon upon ileocolonoscopy despite adequate treatment with CS ± IM ± anti-TNF therapy. Patients were randomised (1:1) and stratified by weight and prior anti-TNF use for induction to one of 2 weight range-based intravenous (IV) doses: 130mg vs. 390 mg if BW ≥40 kg and 3 mg/kg vs. 9 mg/kg if BW <40 kg. At week 8, all patients received a single subcutaneous (SC) UST maintenance dose of 90mg if BW ≥40 kg or 2 mg/kg if BW <40 kg.
Results
Forty-four patients (59% ≥40kg BW; >90% anti-TNF exposed) were randomised (n = 23 lower dose; n = 21 higher dose) and treated with UST. Baseline characteristics are summarised in Table 1. At week 16, in the lower dose and higher dose groups, 52%/52% achieved clinical response (reduction in PCDAI ≥15) and 22%/29% had clinical remission (PCDAI ≤10), respectively (Table 2). In addition, 32% and 28% of patients showed endoscopic response (reduction in Simple Endoscopic Score for CD of ≥50%), respectively. Through week 16, 73% of patients reported ≥1 adverse event (AE; 82.6% lower dose vs. 62% higher dose); 2 discontinued due to AEs (1 in each group). Serious AEs occurred in 16% of patients (26% lower dose and 5% higher dose, with CD exacerbation being the most frequent (13%/5%, respectively). Infections occurred in 41% of patients (1 was serious, which was intestinal abscess that spontaneously resolved with sequelae). No injection site reactions, opportunistic infections, malignancies, or deaths were reported. No antibodies to UST were observed.
Conclusion
As early as 3 weeks and through 16 weeks, both the lower and higher doses of UST (IV week 0 and SC at week 8) improved clinical and endoscopic disease activity in this previously treatment-refractory group of children with CD. The safety profile was consistent with that for UST in adults with CD.
Use of Anti-TNFα Agents and Time to First-time Surgery in Paediatric Patients with Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s Disease
