Introduction
Acute Severe Ulcerative Colitis (ASUC) remains a medical emergency with limited medical options beyond intravenous corticosteroids and rescue advanced therapy. Upadacitinib and tofacitinib are Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors with a rapid onset of action and are increasingly used as rescue therapy for ASUC. However, comparative real-world data, particularly for sequential salvage use following infliximab failure remain limited. We evaluated outcomes of upadacitinib and tofacitinib in ASUC and compared JAK inhibitor used as rescue or sequential salvage therapy.
Aims & Methods
We performed a nationwide multicentre retrospective cohort study across 13 Australian inflammatory bowel disease centres. Adults (≥18 years) meeting Truelove and Witt’s criteria for ASUC who commenced upadacitinib or tofacitinib from April 2021 to April 2024 were included. Outcomes were assessed during index admission and at week 8, 16, and 52 following JAK inhibitor initiation. The primary outcome examined was colectomy by week 52. Secondary outcomes included colectomy at earlier timepoints and clinical, corticosteroid free clinical (CFCR), biochemical, and endoscopic remission.
Results
A total of 150 patients were included (median age 34 years; 48% female). Upadacitinib was used in 51% and tofacitinib in 48%. JAK inhibitor was commenced as rescue therapy in 69% and as sequential salvage therapy after infliximab failure in 31%. Colectomy occurred in 11% of patients during index admission, 21% by week 8, 29% by week 16, and 33% by week 52. By week 52, colectomy was significantly lower with upadacitinib than with tofacitinib (23.4% vs 42.5%, adjusted absolute risk difference -0.18 (95% confidence interval -0.34 - -0.03), p=0.022), with no statistically significant difference at earlier timepoints. Upadacitinib was consistently associated with higher rates of clinical remission, CFCR and biochemical remission throughout follow-up. Despite numerically higher rates of colectomy, there was no statistically significant difference between cumulative colectomy rates for patients receiving rescue or sequential salvage JAK therapy at any timepoint. Adverse events occurred in 21%, serious adverse events in 7% and both were similar between JAK therapies and rescue vs sequential therapy. No venous thromboembolism, major adverse cardiovascular events, or malignancy were observed during the 52-week follow-up.
Conclusion
In this large multicentre real-world ASUC cohort, JAK inhibitors were effective when used as rescue or sequential salvage therapy with a reassuring safety profile. Upadacitinib use was associated with a significantly lower rate of colectomy by 52 weeks compared to tofacitinib and higher rates of clinical remission, CFCR, and biochemical remission during follow-up. Variability in initiation timing, dosing, and prophylaxis practices highlights the need for prospective studies to define optimal treatment pathways and patient selection. Sequential Salvage therapy may represent a viable therapeutic option for patients otherwise facing colectomy for ASUC.
Disclosure
YA reports grants from Janssen, during the conduct of the study; has received speaking and consulting fees from Abbvie, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celltrion, Chiesi, Dr Falk, Ferring, Janssen, Pfizer, Sandoz, Shire and Takeda; served on advisory boards member for Abbvie, Bristol Myers Squibb, Chiesi, Janssen, NPS Medicine wise; received research and educational funding from Abbvie, Celltrion, Dr Falk, Janssen, Pfizer, Sandoz and Takeda.
MG has served on the advisory board of Abbvie, Pfizer and Ferring, and has received speaker fees, research or travel grants from Abbvie, Celltrion, Dr Falk, Ferring, Fresenius Kabi, Janssen, Pfizer, and Takeda.
JB has received speaking and consulting fees from Abbvie, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celltrion, Chiesi, Dr Falk, Ferring, Janssen, Pfizer, Sandoz, Shire, and Takeda; served on advisory boards member for Abbvie, Takeda, Ferring, Celltrion, Bristol Myers Squibb, Chiesi, Janssen, NPS Medicine wise, Anatara, Microba; received research and educational funding from Abbvie, Janssen, Pfizer, Ferring and Takeda.
DL reports advisory board membership, speaker fees or research grants with AbbVie, Janssen, Eli Lilly, Pfizer.
AS has received speaker or consultancy fees from Abbvie, Takeda, Janssen, Pfizer and Dr Falk Pharma
GTM has received speaker or consultancy fees or advisory board fees for AbbVie, BMS, Celgene, Celltrion, Chiesi, Dr Falk Pharma, Eli-Lilly, Ferring, Janssen, MSD, Pfizer, Takeda and research support from CCA, The Gutsy Group and MRFF.
RVB has received grant/research support/speaker fees from AbbVie, Ferring, Janssen, BMS, Shire, Takeda, Dr Falk Pharma, GSK and Emerge Health; and is a shareholder in Biomebank.
CC has received grant/research support/speaker fees from Janssen, Abbvie, Chiesi, Takeda, Ferring, Falk and GESA.
MPS has received educational grants or research support from Gilead and Celltrion, speakers fees from Janssen, Abbvie, Ferring, Takeda, Pfizer, Shire, Celltrion, Eli-Lilly and Dr. Falk Pharma, and has served on advisory boards or received consultancy fees from Janssen, Takeda, Pfizer, Celgene, Abbvie, MSD, Emerge Health, Gilead, BMS, Celltrion, Eli-Lilly and Alimentiv.
KDL declares speaker’s honoraria, advisory board fees, and/or conference travel/registration support from Abbvie, Bristol Myers Squibb, Chiesi, Dr Falk, Ferring, Gilead, Guidepoint, Intercept Pharmaceuticals, Ipsen, Johnson & Johnson, Norgine, Pfizer, Pliant, Sandoz, Takeda, The Limbic, and the RAH Research Fund
PDC has received research educational grants or research support from Janssen, AbbVie, Shire and Celltrion, speaker fees from AbbVie, Ferring, Shire, Janssen, Pfizer, Takeda, Dr Falk and The Limbic and has served on advisory boards or received consultancy fees from Janssen, Takeda, Pfizer, Abbvie, Emerge Health, Celltrion and Ferring. PDC is supported by an NHMRC Emerging Leader 2 Fellowship.
LT has received research funding support from research from: Pfizer, Takeda, Celltrion, advisory board member consultancy work: Takeda, Abbvie, Janssen, Pfizer, Celltrion, BMS, Sandoz and speaker fees from Abbvie, Janssen, Pfizer, Celltrion, Takeda, BMS, FALK
LW has received research funding, speakers honoraria, advisory board fees and/or educational support from Shire, BMS, Ferring, Sandoz, Janssen, Abbvie, Takeda, Pfizer, Frensius-Kabi, The Helmsley Charitable Trust and Dr Falk.