Introduction

OZA, an oral selective sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor modulator, is approved for the treatment of moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis and is under investigation for CD. Clinical, endoscopic, and histologic improvements were observed after 12 wk of treatment with OZA in pts with moderately to severely active CD in the phase 2 STEPSTONE study. Differential decreases in circulating lymphocytes were observed in STEPSTONE, with reductions in T and B cells; however, natural killer cells and monocytes were unaffected. Circulating MBCs have not been widely studied in CD.

Aims & Methods

This exploratory analysis of STEPSTONE assessed the association between levels of circulating lymphocyte subsets and OZA efficacy. Pts received OZA 0.92 mg for 12 wk. Lymphocyte subsets were evaluated using multicolor flow analysis on blood samples collected before treatment and at Week (W) 12; differences between Day 1 and W12 were analyzed by Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. Change in disease activity from baseline to W12 was determined for Simple Endoscopic Score for Crohn’s Disease, size of ulcers, extent of ulcerated surface, extent of affected surface, presence of narrowing, Crohn’s Disease Activity Index (CDAI), Robart’s Histopathology Index (RHI), Geboes Histology Activity Score (GHAS), and stool frequency. Efficacy outcomes (ie, clinical response, clinical remission, endoscopic response, endoscopic remission, global GHAS remission, RHI remission, and RHI mucosal healing) were evaluated at W12. Associations of lymphocyte subset levels with disease activity changes and efficacy outcomes were assessed using Spearman’s correlation and logistic regression, respectively.

Results

Of the 69 pts enrolled, 52 had disease activity, efficacy outcome, and flow cytometry data at baseline and W12 and were included in this analysis. Most lymphocyte subsets assessed were significantly associated with 1 or 2 efficacy outcomes, whereas nonswitched MBCs were significantly associated with most outcomes, including endoscopic response-25, endoscopic response-50, endoscopic remission, global GHAS remission, and RHI mucosal healing (Table). Baseline levels of nonswitched MBCs were significantly correlated with change from baseline to W12 in extent of affected surface (Spearman’s rho = –0.44, P<0.05), RHI (Spearman’s rho = –0.34, P<0.05), and GHAS (Spearman’s rho = –0.47, P<0.05). Changes in levels of nonswitched MBCs were significantly correlated with change from baseline to W12 in CDAI (Spearman’s rho = 0.38, P<0.05), RHI (Spearman’s rho = 0.37, P<0.05), GHAS (Spearman’s rho = 0.43, P<0.05), and stool frequency (Spearman’s rho = 0.43, P<0.05).

Conclusion

After 12 wk of OZA treatment, higher levels of nonswitched MBCs at baseline were associated with endoscopic and histologic improvement, and reductions in nonswitched MBCs were associated with decreases in clinical and histologic disease activity. These data implicate nonswitched MBCs, which are involved in T cell–dependent immune responses and some inflammatory diseases, as a marker associated with OZA response in CD.

Disclosure

The study was funded by Bristol Myers Squibb, Princeton, NJ, USA.
SHar, CW, YH, and RM: employees and/or shareholders of Bristol Myers Squibb.
BGF: consulted for AbbVie, ActoGeniX, Albireo, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Avaxia Biologics, Baxter, Biogen Idec, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Calypso, Celgene, Elan, Eli Lilly, enGene, Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Roche/Genentech, gIcare Pharma, Gilead, Given Imaging, GlaxoSmithKline, Ironwood, Janssen, Johnson & Johnson, Lexicon, Merck, Millennium, Nektar, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, Prometheus Laboratories, Protagonist, Sanofi, and UCB; director at Robarts Clinical Trials.
SHan: consulted for AbbVie, Actavis, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Caremark, Celgene, Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Janssen, Merck, Pfizer, Salix, Sanofi-Aventis, Shire, and UCB.
SV: received research funding from AbbVie, Galapagos, Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, and Takeda; received consulting and/or speaking fees from AbbVie, Abivax, AbolerIS, AgomAb, Alimentiv, Arena, AstraZeneca, Avaxia, Bristol Myers Squibb, Boehringer Ingelheim, Celgene, CVasThera, Cytoki Pharma, Eli Lilly, Falk Pharma, Ferring, Galapagos, Genentech/Roche, Gilead, GlaxoSmithKline, Hospira, IMIDomics, Janssen, Johnson & Johnson, Materia Prima, MiroBio, Morphic Therapeutic, MRM Health, MSD, Mundipharma, Pfizer, ProDigest, Progenity, Prometheus, Robarts Clinical Trials, Second Genome, Shire, Surrozen, Takeda, Theravance, Tillotts Pharma AG, and Zealand.
SG: received research funding from AbbVie and GlaxoSmithKline; served as a lecturer for AbbVie, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Ferring, Galapagos, Gilead, Janssen, MSD, Pfizer, and Takeda; served as a consultant for AbbVie, Bristol Myers Squibb, Janssen, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, Roche, and Takeda.
JY: employee and shareholder of Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings.
DCW: received honoraria as a speaker, consultant, and/or advisory board member from AbbVie, Arena, Celgene/Bristol Myers Squibb, Janssen, Pfizer, Prometheus, Takeda, and UCB.
GD: served as an advisor for AbbVie, Agomab Therapeutics, Alimentiv, Applied Molecular Therapeutics, AstraZeneca, Bristol Myers Squibb, Boehringer Ingelheim, Celltrion, Cytoki, Eli Lilly, Exeliom, Ferring, Galapagos, GlaxoSmithKline, Gossamer Bio, Immunic, Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, Polpharma, ProciseDx, Progenity, Prometheus Biosciences, Prometheus Laboratories, Protagonist Therapeutics, Seres, Takeda, Tillotts, and Versant; received speaker fees from AbbVie, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, Galapagos, Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, Takeda, and Tillotts.

Introduction

Patients with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis (UC) have debilitating symptoms that may incur substantial negative effects on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). According to the STRIDE-II consensus, restoration of HRQoL is a desirable long-term treatment goal for patients with active UC.¹ In this post-hoc analysis, we evaluated the extent to which patients treated with upadacitinib (UPA) achieved normalisation of HRQoL after induction and maintenance treatment.

Aims & Methods

Data from the multicentre, double-blind, Phase 3 trials, U-ACHIEVE (NCT02819635) and U-ACCOMPLISH (NCT03653026), were analysed. During induction, patients were randomised 1:2 to oral placebo (PBO) or UPA 45 mg once daily (QD) for 8 weeks. Patients achieving a clinical response to UPA per Adapted Mayo score at Week 8 were re-randomised 1:1:1 to PBO, UPA 15 mg, or UPA 30 mg QD for 52 weeks of maintenance. The proportion of patients achieving normalisation of each individual HRQoL outcome, per literature-base normative value thresholds, was assessed at Weeks 8 and 52: FACIT-Fatigue score; IBDQ score; WPAI-UC (overall work impairment, work time missed, impairment while working, activity impairment); SF-36 PCS; SF-36 MCS; EQ-5D-5L VAS; and EQ-5D-5L index. A stringent composite score including these outcomes was also calculated to determine the proportion of patients who achieved normalisation of all individual HRQoL-related scores. Point estimates were calculated for all outcomes and treatment differences between UPA and PBO were compared using the Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test.

Results

During induction, 660 patients were randomised to UPA 45 mg and 328 patients to PBO. In patients receiving UPA 45 mg vs PBO, more patients achieved normalisation of each individual HRQoL outcome at Week 8 of induction (p<0.001; Table 1). Improvements were also observed at Week 52 of maintenance in patients receiving UPA 15 mg (n=148) and 30 mg (n=154), with more patients achieving normalisation of each HRQoL outcome with both doses of UPA vs PBO (p<=0.01). More patients achieved normalisation of composite HRQoL scores at Weeks 8 (UPA 45 mg: 18.9%; PBO: 5.5%) and 52 (UPA 30 mg: 24.0%; UPA 15 mg: 22.3%; PBO: 8.7%) with all doses of UPA compared to PBO (p<=0.001).
Table 1. Proportion of patients with UC achieving normalisation of HRQoL outcomes after treatment

Conclusion

UPA is more efficacious than PBO at achieving normalisation of patients’ HRQoL, at induction and through Week 52 of maintenance. These results suggest that UPA may help patients with moderately to severely active UC achieve the long-term treatment goal of normalisation of HRQoL.

References

1. Turner D, et al. Gastroenterology. 2021;160:1570–83.

Disclosure

Joana Torres has received grant funding/speaker fees from and/or has participated in advisory boards for AbbVie, Galapagos, Janssen, and Pfizer.
Gareth Parkes received personal payments/honoraria/speaker fees and/or accepted travel grants or fellowships from AbbVie, Allergan, BMS, Celltrion, Ferring, Galapagos, Janssen, Napp, Takeda, and Tillotts; and is a Director and Shareholder in Ampersand Health.
Corey Siegel has served as a consultant, advisor, speaker for CME activities, and/or received grant funding from AbbVie, BMS, Celltrion, Fresenius, Janssen, Lilly, Napo, Pfizer, Prometheus, Prometheus Labs, Roivant, and Takeda.
Julian Panés received consultancy fees/honorarium from AbbVie, Alimentiv, Athos, Atomwise, Boehringer Ingelheim, Celsius, Ferring, Galapagos, Genentech/Roche, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen, Mirum, Nimbus, Pfizer, Progenity, Prometheus, Protagonist, Revolo, Sanofi, Sorriso, Surrozen, Takeda, and Wasserman; and has served on a data safety monitoring board for Alimentiv, Mirum, Sorriso, Sanofi, and Surrozen.
Edward V. Loftus Jr: served as a consultant for AbbVie, Alvotech, Amgen, Arena, Avalo, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Calibr, Celgene, Celltrion Healthcare, Eli Lilly, Fresenius Kabi, Genentech, Gilead, GlaxoSmithKline, Gossamer Bio, Iota, Iterative Scopes, Janssen, Morphic Therapeutics, Ono Pharma, Pfizer, Protagonist, Scipher Medicine, Surrozen, Sun Pharma, Takeda, and UCB; and received research grants from AbbVie, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene, Genentech, Gilead, Gossamer Bio, Janssen, Pfizer, Receptos, Robarts Clinical Trials, Takeda, Theravance, and UCB.
Remo Panaccione served as a consultant for Abbott, AbbVie, Abbivax, Alimentiv (formerly Robarts), Amgen, AnaptysBio, 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, Prometheus Biosciences, Protagonist Therapeutics, Roche, Sandoz, Satisfai Health, Shire, Sublimity Therapeutics, Spyre Therapeutics, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Theravance Biopharma, Trellus, Union Biopharma, Viatris, Ventyx, UCB; and received speaker’s fees from AbbVie, Amgen, Arena Pharmaceuticals, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Ferring, Fresenius Kabi, Gilead Sciences, Janssen, Merck, Organon, Pfizer, Roche, Sandoz, Shire, and Takeda Pharmaceuticals; and was an advisory board member 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, and Ventyx.
Yuri Sanchez Gonzalez, Si Xuan, Valencia Remple, Justin Klaff, Cecile Holweg, and Dolly Sharmaare full-time employees of AbbVie and may hold AbbVie stock and/or stock options.
Funding statement: Financial support for the study was provided by AbbVie. AbbVie participated in interpretation of data, review, and approval of the abstract. All authors contributed to development of the abstract and maintained control over final content. No honoraria or payments were made for authorship. Medical writing services provided by Kay Hallam, MSc, of Fishawack Facilitate, Ltd, part of Avalere Health and funded by AbbVie.

Introduction

The phase 2b GALAXI 1 and phase 3 GALAXI 2&3 studies evaluated guselkumab (GUS), a dual-acting IL-23p19 subunit inhibitor, in participants (pts) with moderately to severely active CD.¹ Pts treated with ustekinumab (UST) who met inadequate response criteria during the long-term extension (LTE) could cross over to GUS 200 mg SC q4w. Here, we present efficacy and safety results in pts who received GUS after experiencing an inadequate response to UST in the pooled GALAXI LTE.

Aims & Methods

Individuals with prior inadequate response or intolerance to UST were excluded from GALAXI; however, during the LTE, pts treated with UST 90 mg SC q8w who met inadequate treatment response criteria (not in clinical response [≥100-point reduction in CDAI score from baseline or CDAI<150] and CDAI ≥220) between Wks 52-80 of LTE were eligible for a treatment switch to GUS 200 mg SC q4w, without IV induction. Clinical response and clinical remission (CDAI<150) were both assessed 16 weeks after treatment switch. Endoscopic response (≥50% improvement from baseline SES-CD or SES-CD≤2) and endoscopic remission (SES-CD≤4 and ≥2-point reduction from baseline and no subscore >1 in any individual component) were assessed at Wk 96. Safety was assessed through Wk 96.

Results

In total, 80 pts treated with UST underwent treatment switch to GUS 200 mg SC q4w maintenance therapy due to meeting inadequate treatment response criteria between Wks 52-80 of the LTE. Of these 80 pts, 75 were included in the efficacy analyses (baseline mean age, 35.2yrs; male, 64.0%; mean CD disease duration, 8.21yrs; mean CDAI, 291.5; mean SES-CD, 12.8; history of inadequate response/intolerance to biologics [BIO-IR], 60.0%).
The proportions of pts achieving clinical response and clinical remission 16 weeks after treatment switch from UST to GUS 200 mg SC q4w were 61.3% and 52.0%, respectively. These results were comparable to the proportions of pts treated with GUS 200 mg IV q4w induction in the BIO-IR subgroup of the total LTE population who achieved clinical response and clinical remission at Wk 12 (61.7% and 46.7%, respectively).
The proportions of pts achieving endoscopic response and endoscopic remission at Wk 96 (ie, ~1 year after treatment switch from UST to GUS 200 mg SC q4w) were 49.3% and 30.7%, respectively. These results were similar to the proportions of pts in the BIO-IR subgroup receiving GUS 200 mg SC q4w maintenance who achieved endoscopic response and endoscopic remission at Wk 48 (57.2% and 35.5%, respectively).
Safety results are summarized in the Table.

Table. Safety Summary From Treatment Switch Through Week 96

Conclusion

Among pts who experienced inadequate response to UST in the LTE, more than half achieved clinical remission 16 weeks after treatment switch to GUS 200 mg SC q4w, and approximately 50% were in endoscopic response ~1 year after treatment switch. These data suggest pts with an inadequate treatment response to UST may benefit from GUS treatment. Results should be interpreted considering that pts received GUS SC maintenance therapy directly without IV induction. Key safety event rates were consistent with the known safety profile of GUS in approved indications.

References

1) Sachen K, Hammaker D, Sarabia I, et al. Frontiers in Immunology. 2025; doi:10.3389/fimmu.2025.1532852.

Disclosure

AA reports potential conflicts of interest with AbbVie, Bristol Myers Squibb/Celgene, DiaSorin, Eli Lilly, Gilead, IBD Horizons, Janssen, Pfizer, Takeda, and TLL Pharmaceuticals
DW reports consulting fees from AbbVie, Bristol Myers Squibb, Janssen, Lilly, Pfizer, Takeda
RL reports having received advisory board fees from AbbVie, Aspen, BMS, Celgene, Celltrion, Chiesi, Ferring, Glutagen, Hospira, Janssen, Lilly, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, Prometheus Biosciences, and Takeda; received research grants from Celltrion, Shire, Janssen, Takeda, Joanna Tiddy grant from University of Sydney, McCusker Charitable Trust, Gastroenterological Society of Australia, NHMRC, Gutsy Group, and Pfizer
RVR, WvD, and CB are employees of Johnson & Johnson and own company stock/stock options.
TH received grant support from Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, EA pharma Co. Ltd., AbbVie GK, JIMRO Co. Ltd., Zeria Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Kyorin Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Nippon Kayaku Co. Ltd., Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Pfizer Inc., Mochida Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Boston Scientific Corporation, Kissei Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., consulting fees from Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, EA pharma Co. Ltd., AbbVie GK, Janssen Pharmaceutical K.K., Pfizer Inc., Nichi-Iko Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Eli Lilly, Gilead Sciences, Bristol Myers Squibb, and lecture fee from Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, AbbVie GK, EA pharma Co. Ltd., Kyorin Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., JIMRO Co., Janssen Pharmaceutical K.K., Mochida Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Pfizer Inc. Kissei Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.
JP reports consultancy fees/honorarium from AbbVie, Alimentiv, Athos, Atomwise, Boehringer Ingelheim, Celsius, Ferring, Galapagos, Genentech/Roche, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen, Mirum, Nimbus, Pfizer, Progenity, Prometheus, Protagonist, Revolo, Sanofi, Sorriso, Surrozen, Takeda, and Wasserman, and has served on a data safety monitoring board for Alimentiv, Mirum, Sorriso, Sanofi, and Surrozen.