DOP32 Clinical and molecular characterisation of patients with durable response to ustekinumab induction therapy: Results from the UNIFI phase 3 studies in moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis

Abstract Background Ustekinumab (UST) is an effective therapy for moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis (UC).1 A subset of patients responded to the induction dose of UST and achieved clinical remission at maintenance Week 44 (M-Week 44) following placebo (PBO) maintenance. The clinical and molecular characteristics of this group are unknown. Methods Three subsets of patients in the UNIFI phase 3 studies were compared: (1) UST induction Week 8 (I-Week 8) responders who achieved clinical remission at M-Week 44 following PBO maintenance (n = 32; referred to as 1UST-R); (2) UST I-Week 8 responders who did not achieve clinical remission at M-Week 44 following PBO maintenance (n = 87; 1UST-NR); (3) patients who had no clinical response following two doses of UST induction (n = 93; 2UST-NR). Clinical characteristics, histologic activity, inflammation burden, and genetic risk were compared among the three groups at induction baseline. Serum biomarkers related to the IL-12 and IL-23 pathways and/or UC in general (IFNg, IL-17A, IL-22, MMPs, SAA, and NGAL) were analysed in ~60% of patients within the three groups and compared with patients who achieved M-Week 44 clinical remission following UST maintenance and normal controls. Results 1UST-R had lower disease activity and inflammation burden (CRP, faecal calprotectin, and faecal lactoferrin) at induction baseline than 1UST-NR and 2UST-NR. They had shorter disease duration, a lower frequency of biologic therapy failure, and a trend of lower polygenic genetic risk scores. Disease (MMPs and NGAL) and pathway-related biomarkers (IL17A and IL22) for this group were comparatively less elevated at induction baseline. Histologic measures of architectural change and chronic inflammation were higher in 2UST-NR than in 1UST-R or 1UST-NR at induction baseline. IFNg, IL17A, IL22, MMPs, and SAA in UC were partially normalised by UST induction and further improved with UST maintenance therapy. In contrast, there was no further improvement in these serum markers among the 1UST-R patients during the maintenance phase. Conclusion Patients with a durable response to UST induction had lower disease activity, serum biomarkers indicative of inflammation, and IL-12 and IL-23 pathway activity. Although the molecular effects of UST induction were retained through M-Week 44 in this group, the lack of further improvement suggests a molecular benefit of UST maintenance therapy. Reference

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P712 Association of histologic-endoscopic mucosal healing after ustekinumab induction or maintenance therapy with 2-year outcomes in the UNIFI Phase 3 study in ulcerative colitis

Journal of Crohn s and Colitis ◽

10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjz203.840 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 14 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S574-S575

Author(s):

K Li ◽

F Yang ◽

C Marano ◽

H Zhang ◽

W J Sandborn ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ulcerative Colitis ◽

Maintenance Therapy ◽

Disease Activity ◽

Clinical Remission ◽

Dose Adjustment ◽

Mucosal Healing ◽

Faecal Calprotectin ◽

To Receive ◽

Lower Disease Activity

Abstract Background Ustekinumab (UST) is an effective therapy for moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis (UC). Histological and endoscopic improvement of mucosa after induction are associated with clinical remission and steroid-free clinical remission at maintenance Week 44. The association of histological-endoscopic mucosal healing after UST induction or maintenance therapy with 2-year outcomes in moderate-to-severe UC is not known. Methods In the UNIFI study of UST in moderate-to-severe UC, histological-endoscopic mucosal healing was defined as achieving both endoscopic improvement (Mayo endoscopy subscore ≤1) and histological improvement (i.e., neutrophil infiltration in <5% of crypts, no crypt destruction, and no erosions, ulcerations, or granulation tissue; based on the Geboes score). Associations of mucosal improvement after induction (irrespective of treatment) or UST maintenance with long-term efficacy of UST, disease severity, inflammation level, and dose adjustment were evaluated up to Week 92 in the long-term extension (LTE) phase of UNIFI. Analysis was conducted in patients who were randomised to receive UST maintenance therapy and continued with UST in LTE. Tests with p-value <0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results Patients with histological-endoscopic mucosal healing after induction had significantly lower disease activity (partial Mayo score and stool frequency) and a trend for lower inflammation measured by CRP and faecal calprotectin at maintenance Week 44 than those without induction mucosal healing (Table 1). These improvements in disease activity were retained through LTE Week 92, with patients with induction histological-endoscopic mucosal healing showing a continuous reduction of disease activity. Significantly lower disease activity, CRP, and faecal calprotectin were also observed through LTE among patients with histological-endoscopic mucosal healing after UST maintenance compared with those without (Table 1). Patients with histological-endoscopic mucosal healing after induction remained on treatment longer than those without (p < 0.05). In addition, patients with histological-endoscopic mucosal healing after induction or maintenance were less likely to receive dose adjustment during LTE, but this association was not statistically significant. Conclusion Early macroscopic and microscopic improvement of the mucosa is an indicator of positive long-term clinical outcomes and reductions in inflammatory burden.

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P603 Persistence of vedolizumab maintenance therapy: Findings from a Belgian registry

Journal of Crohn s and Colitis ◽

10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjz203.731 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 14 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S503-S504

Author(s):

E Louis ◽

V Muls ◽

P Bossuyt ◽

A Colard ◽

A Nakad ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ulcerative Colitis ◽

Crohn’S Disease ◽

Crohn's Disease ◽

Maintenance Therapy ◽

Disease Activity ◽

Real World ◽

Clinical Remission ◽

Disease Activity Score ◽

Activity Score

Abstract Background Clinical trials and observational studies have demonstrated the clinical efficacy of vedolizumab (VDZ) as maintenance therapy for Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). This report presents long-term data on persistence of VDZ maintenance therapy in real-world clinical practice in Belgium. Methods The Belgian VDZ Registry (ENCePP EUPAS6469) enrolled 202 VDZ-treated ulcerative colitis (UC) or Crohn’s disease (CD) adult patients (26% with no prior use of anti-TNF therapy) from 19 centres across Belgium. The median length of VDZ therapy prior to enrolment was 11 months. Patients were followed-up every 6 months after enrolment with the assessment of IBD features, use of biologics, and disease activity. Clinical remission was defined as the Harvey–Bradshaw Index (HBI) <5 or partial Mayo Score (pMS) <2. Missing value imputation (last observation carried forward) was used to partially account for missing disease activity scores. If a 6-monthly disease activity score was missing, the disease activity score from the previous 6-monthly assessment was used. Results The mean duration of VDZ therapy, including use prior to enrolment, was 31 months, with 68% of CD patients and 75% of UC patients using VDZ therapy for 48 months. Clinical remission rate after 42 months of VDZ therapy was higher in UC (84%) than CD (67%), and higher for patients without prior anti-TNF therapy (87%) than those with prior anti-TNF therapy (70%). Fifty-seven (29.4%) patients discontinued VDZ during follow-up, due to loss of response (n = 40), adverse event (n = 7), clinical remission (n = 4), pregnancy planning (n = 3), and patient choice (n = 3). Conclusion These real-world long-term Belgian data demonstrate a high persistence of VDZ maintenance therapy among both CD and UC patients, with highest clinical remission rates seen in patients with UC and those with no prior anti-TNF therapy.

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