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

A marked decrease of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii is a well-established hallmark of Crohn’s disease (CD)-associated dysbiosis and predicts disease relapse (1-2). Several strains of F. prausnitzii exhibit anti-inflammatory effects in vitro and in rodents colitis models, positioning this species as a promising therapeutic candidate (3-4). However, it has never been administered to humans. Here, we present the development and first-in-human evaluation of F. prausnitzii strain EXL01 for CD treatment.

Aims & Methods

F. prausnitzii EXL01, isolated from a healthy donor, was selected based on strict safety and preliminary in vitro efficacy criteria. Its anti-inflammatory effect was tested in trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis in rats and dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis in mice. After favorable toxicological studies, a first-in-human, open-label, single-arm study (Part A) was conducted in patients with mild to moderate ileal CD (CDAI 180–350), following clinical remission (CDAI <150) or response (CDAI decrease ≥70) after corticosteroids (CS). EXL01 (10¹⁰ total cell count/day) was administered orally for 24 weeks, with a 6-week CS taper. Colonoscopies were performed at baseline and week 24. The primary endpoint was safety; secondary endpoints included clinical efficacy, blood/fecal biomarkers, transcriptomic analysis, and gut microbiota profiling. Part B, initially planned as a placebo-controlled phase, was not pursued due to low recruitment.

Results

According to classical evaluation endpoints, EXL01 demonstrated dose-dependent anti-inflammatory effects in both TNBS and DSS models. Between March 2023 and October 2024, 8 patients were enrolled across Belgium and Poland. Baseline characteristics were consistent with the target CD population. After corticosteroid induction, the parameters were as follow: CDAI = 78.1 (42-105); SES-CD= 6.9 (2-17); CRP = 5.7mg/l (3-13). EXL01 was well tolerated; no treatment-related serious adverse events or safety signals were observed. Six participants (75%) completed the 24-week treatment; two discontinued due to disease flare. Compared to patients who remained in remission, those who flared during the study showed higher baseline systemic inflammation markers (CRP, neutrophils, platelets) and innate immunity gene expression, with limited corticosteroid response. While gut microbiota composition remained largely stable, transcriptomic analyses revealed distinct changes in ileal gene expression following EXL01 treatment, notably modulation of immune-related genes and upregulation of energy metabolism pathways, similar to what we saw previously in vitro (bioRxiv 2024.10.06.616495).

Conclusion

EXL01, administered during and after CS tapering, was safe and well tolerated for up to 24 weeks in patients with CD. Though limited by small sample size, the study supports the biological activity of EXL01, notably through its impact on ileal gene expression. A phase 2 randomized controlled trial is ongoing to further assess efficacy.

References

1. Rajca S, Grondin V, Louis E, et al. Alterations in the intestinal microbiome (dysbiosis) as a predictor of relapse after infliximab withdrawal in Crohn's disease. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2014 Jun;20(6):978-86. doi: 10.1097/MIB.0000000000000036. PMID: 24788220.
2. Pascal V, Pozuelo M, Borruel N, et al. A microbial signature for Crohn's disease. Gut. 2017;66(5):813-22.
3. Sokol H, Pigneur B, Watterlot L, et al. Faecalibacterium prausnitzii is an anti-inflammatory commensal bacterium identified by gut microbiota analysis of Crohn disease patients. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2008;105(43):16731-6.
4. Martin R, Chain F, Miquel S, et al. The commensal bacterium Faecalibacterium prausnitzii is protective in DNBS-induced chronic moderate and severe colitis models. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2014;20(3):417-30.

Disclosure

HS, PhL and BH are co-founder of Exeliom. PR, DS, BH are employees of Exeliom Biosciences

Introduction

Complex perianal fistulas represent one of the most challenging manifestations of Crohn’s disease. Combined surgical and medical therapy with biologic drugs represents today the first-line treatment option, but its efficacy does not exceed 60% in terms of healing. Recently, new therapeutic approaches, such as autologous microfragmented adipose tissue (M-Fat) injection, have shown promising results. Indeed, a recent non-profit prospective pilot study on 15 patients has demonstrated that the local injection of M-Fat is a safe and promising “rescue therapy” for patients with multiresistant complex fistulizing Crohn’s disease (PCD), with a 66.7% rate of combined remission in such difficult patients. It has to be highlighted that the M-Fat injection is minimally invasive, with less risk of sphincteric damage and can be carried out in day-surgery setting.

Aims & Methods

The primary aim of this multicentre double-blind randomized controlled trial (ATTIC) is to evaluate the efficacy of the infiltration of M-Fat in the healing of perianal complex fistulas not-responding to treatment with biologics. Consecutive patients referring to the 6 investigation Centers for surgical treatment of persistent complex fistulizing PCD refractory to biosurgical approach were assessed for eligibility. After baseline pelvic magnetic resonance imaging, those included were submitted to surgical drainage with “cone-like” fistulectomy, and then randomized to receive a 15 to 20 cc local injection, at the internal orifice level and along fistula tracts, of M-Fat obtained by a lipoaspiration and processed with an enzyme-free technology (treatment group), or a suture placement and injection of 15 cc of saline solution at the internal orifice (control group). Clinical follow-up were conducted at 2, 4, 8, 12, and 24 weeks; at 24 weeks after surgery, pelvic magnetic resonance was obtained. Success was defined as “combined remission”, combination of clinical (absence of drainage upon gentle finger compression) and radiological healing (absence of residual collections > 3 mm). Clinical remission was defined as clinical healing of all external openings not confirmed at radiological assessment.

Results

An overall 92 patients were screened, and 66 (33 per group) completed the 24-week follow-up. A statistically significant difference in favour of the treatment group in terms of combined remission emerged at the primary endpoint at 24-week follow-up (control group, 18.18%; treatment group: 57.58%; p = 0.0020). No significant differences in clinical outcome measures were encountered at any of the other follow-up points. No significant differences emerged between the groups in terms of recurrence rate, complication rate, and number of adverse events. Clinical remission was 63.64% in the treatment group compared to 51.52% in the control group with no statistically significant difference (p > 0.05).

Conclusion

This multicentre double-blind randomized controlled trial demonstrates that the intraoperative injection of M-Fat, associated with surgical complete drainage of perianal sepsis, is safe, effective, and reproducible in healing complex multirefractory perianal Crohn's disease, while improving the quality of life and significantly reducing the risk of definitive oostomy.

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.