Joshi, Namita

INTRODUCTION: Normalized quality of life represents a crucial long-term treatment goal in Crohn's disease (CD). We evaluated the effect of risankizumab (RZB) vs ustekinumab (UST) on achieving clinically meaningful improvements in patient-reported outcomes in the phase 3b head-to-head SEQUENCE study. METHODS: Adults with moderate-to-severe CD whose previous anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy failed were randomized 1:1 to recommended induction and maintenance doses of RZB or UST. The proportion of patients who achieved Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (IBDQ) response, IBDQ remission, and improvements in 36-item short-form health survey physical and mental component summary (physical component summary and mental component summary, respectively) scores was evaluated at weeks 24 and 48. The proportion of patients experiencing improvement in select symptoms of the IBDQ was reported. RESULTS: Analysis included 520 patients (RZB: N = 255; UST: N = 265). At week 24, greater proportions(all P ≤ .01) of RZB- vs UST-treated patients achieved IBDQ response (75.3% vs 64.2%), IBDQ remission (52.5% vs 30.9%), and improvements in 36-item short-form health survey physical component summary (65.9% vs 53.2%). At 24 weeks, lower proportions (all P ≤ .05) of RZB- vs UST-treated patients experienced fatigue (51.4% vs 69.1%), difficulty sleeping (37.7% vs 54.3%), depression (34.1% vs 42.6%), anxiety (34.1% vs 49.8%), and bowel urgency (27.1% vs 40.0%) all of the time to some of the time. Improvements were sustained through week 48. DISCUSSION: RZB was more effective than UST in achieving sustained clinically meaningful patient-reported outcome improvements including IBDQ response and remission, and in reducing frequency of select symptoms of the IBDQ through week 48 among patients with moderate-to-severe CD.

Abstract Background Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is impaired in patients with Crohn’s disease (CD). Upadacitinib (UPA), a Janus kinase inhibitor, demonstrated efficacy and safety in the phase 3 U-EXCEED (NCT03345836) and U-EXCEL (NCT03345849) induction, and U-ENDURE (NCT03345823) maintenance trials in patients with moderately to severely active CD. We assessed the effect of UPA maintenance treatment on HRQoL in patients with moderately to severely active CD from the U-ENDURE long-term extension (LTE) study. Methods Patients who completed the 52-week U-ENDURE maintenance study were eligible to participate in the LTE study, continuing their previously assigned maintenance treatment. Of the 337 patients receiving UPA (168, UPA 30 mg; 169, UPA 15 mg) in the U-ENDURE maintenance trial, a total of 244 patients (137, UPA 30 mg; 107, UPA 15 mg) were included in this analysis. All 244 patients completed week 96 of the LTE. Endpoints included percentage of patients who achieved Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (IBDQ) response (≥16-point increase from induction baseline), IBDQ remission (total score ≥170 points), a meaningful within-person change (MWPC) of ≥ 9point increase from baseline in the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy – Fatigue Scale (FACIT-F) and a MWPC of ≥ 4.1- and ≥3.9-point increase from baseline on the 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) physical (PCS) and mental (MCS) component summary score, respectively, at maintenance week 52 and LTE week 96. We also assessed MWPC in Work Productivity and Activity Impairment in CD (WPAI-CD) domains defined as a decrease of ≥ 6.1% in presenteeism, ≥6.5% in absenteeism, ≥7.3% in overall work impairment and ≥8.5% in activity impairment. Data were reported using nonresponder imputation. Results The proportion of patients in the UPA 30 mg group achieving HRQoL outcomes was maintained from maintenance week 52 to LTE week 96, including achievement of IBDQ response (61.3% vs 57.7%), IBDQ remission (53.3% vs 53.3%), MWPC improvement in FACIT-F (50.4% vs 40.9%), SF-36 PCS (56.9% vs 56.2%), SF-36 MCS (47.4% vs 40.9%) and MWPC improvements in WPAI-CD domains presenteeism (45.6% vs 48.1%), overall work impairment (49.4% vs 51.9%) and daily activity impairment (57.7% vs 56.9%). Patients in the UPA 15 mg group also maintained achievement of these HRQoL outcomes over time (Table). Conclusion UPA (15 and 30 mg) maintenance treatment over a 3-year period was associated with sustained and clinically meaningful disease-specific and generic HRQoL improvement in patients with moderately to severely active CD. Despite the overall trend favouring UPA 30 mg, differences in patient-reported outcomes between the 2 dose groups were small. Conflict of interest: Panés, Julián: Personal Fees: J. Panés received consultancy fees/honorarium from AbbVie, Alimentiv, Boehringer Ingelheim, Ferring, Galapagos, Genentech/Roche, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen, Mirum, Nimbus, Pfizer, Progenity, Prometheus, Protagonist, Revolo, Sanofi, Sorriso, Spyre Therapeutics, Surrozen, Takeda, and Wasserman, and has served on data safety monitoring boards for Alimentiv, Mirum, Roche, Sorriso, Sanofi, and Surrozen Louis, Edouard: Education and Reserach Grants for my department: Abbvie, Takeda, Johnson and Johnson, Pfizer, Fresenius-Kabi, Celltrion, EG pharma, Sandoz, Falk Personal Fees for conferences, advisory boards and consultancy: Abbvie, Takeda, Ferring, Pfizer, Johnson and Johnson, Lilly, Galapagos, Celltrion, Arena, BMS, Falk, Biokuris, Fresenius-Kabi, Thabor Bossuyt, Peter: Grant support for research from AbbVie, EG Consulting fee from AbbVie, Bristol Meyers Squibb, CIRC, Galapagos, Janssen, Jeito capital, Lilly, Pentax, Pfizer, PSI-CRO, Roche, Takeda, Tetrameros Speakers fee from AbbVie, AMC ICP, Amgen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celltrion, Dr Falk Benelux, EG, Galapagos, Globalport, Lilly, Medtalks, Materia Prima, Pentax, Springer Media Joshi, Namita: Namita Joshi is a full-time employees/contractor of AbbVie and may own AbbVie stock or options. Xuan, Si: Full-time employee/contractor of AbbVie and may own AbbVie stock or options. Shukla, Nidhi: Full-time employee/contractor of AbbVie and may own AbbVie stock or options. Dubcenco, Elena: Full-time employee/contractor of AbbVie and may own AbbVie stock or options. Aponte, Fernando: Full-time employee/contractor of AbbVie and may own AbbVie stock or options. Perkovic, Ashley: Full-time employee/contractor of AbbVie and may own AbbVie stock or options. Loftus, Jr, Edward: Grant: AbbVie, Amgen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene, Genentech, Gilead, Janssen, Pfizer, Receptos, Robarts Clinical Trials, Takeda, Theravance, UCB. Personal Fees: AbbVie, Allergan, Amgen, Arena, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Calibr, Celgene, Celltrion, Eli Lilly, Genentech, Gilead, Iterative Scopes, Janssen, Ono Pharma, Pfizer, Sun Pharma, Takeda, UCB.

Abstract Background Endoscopic healing is an important treatment goal in Crohn’s disease (CD), in line with European Crohn’s and Colitis Organisation CD guidelines, as it is associated with improved long-term disease outcomes. We assessed the relationship between endoscopic healing and long-term clinical outcomes, patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and hospitalisations in patients (pts) with moderately to severely active CD receiving upadacitinib (UPA) maintenance treatment in the U-ENDURE long-term extension (LTE) study. Methods Pts completing the 52-week U-ENDURE maintenance study were eligible to participate in the LTE study, continuing their previously assigned maintenance treatment. Pts receiving UPA 15 mg or 30 mg once daily in LTE were included in this analysis. Clinical remission based on CD activity index (CDAI <150), CDAI response (≥100-point decrease in CDAI from induction baseline), clinical remission based on stool frequency/abdominal pain (SF/AP) score (average daily soft or liquid SF ≤ 2.8 and average daily AP ≤ 1.0, and neither greater than induction baseline), Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (IBDQ) response (≥16-point increase in total IBDQ score from induction baseline) and remission (IBDQ total score ≥170 points), Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy – Fatigue Scale (FACIT-F) response (≥9-point increase from induction baseline), and economic outcomes (CD-related hospitalisations or surgeries) were evaluated at LTE week 96. Outcomes were compared between pts who achieved vs those who did not achieve endoscopic response, endoscopic remission, or ulcer-free endoscopy (endoscopic outcomes defined in Table footnote) at maintenance week 52 using chi-square testing (nominal P values). Pts with missing outcomes at LTE week 96 were imputed as nonresponders. Results Of 244 pts, 153/244 (62.7%), 112/244 (45.9%) and 89/242 (36.8%) achieved endoscopic response, endoscopic remission, and ulcer-free endoscopy, respectively, at LTE week 0. Significantly (all nominal P≤0.05) more pts who achieved endoscopic response, endoscopic remission or had an ulcer-free endoscopy at LTE Week 0 achieved CDAI response, CDAI remission, SF/AP clinical remission, IBDQ response, IBDQ remission and FACIT-F response at LTE week 96 (Table). CD-related hospitalisations or surgeries at LTE week 96, were significantly (nominal P≤0.05) lower in pts with endoscopic remission and ulcer-free endoscopy at LTE week 0, and numerically lower in pts with endoscopic response. Conclusion A significantly higher proportion of pts who achieved endoscopic outcomes at 52 weeks and received up to 3 years of UPA maintenance treatment achieved long-term improvements in clinical and PROs and reduced CD-related hospitalisations or surgeries. Conflict of interest: Loftus, Jr, Edward: Edward V. Loftus, Jr. has received consulting fees from AbbVie, Abivax, Astellas, Avalo Therapeutics, Biocon, BMS, Celltrion Healthcare, Eli Lilly, Fresenius Kabi, Genentech, Gilead, Iota Biosciences, Iterative Health, Janssen, Merck, Morphic Therapeutics, Ono Pharma, Spyre Therapeutics, Takeda, and TR1X Bio has received research support from AbbVie, Genentech, Gilead, Janssen, Merck, and Takeda and holds stock in Exact Sciences and Moderna. Louis, Edouard: Education and Reserach Grants for my department: Abbvie, Takeda, Johnson and Johnson, Pfizer, Fresenius-Kabi, Celltrion, EG pharma, Sandoz, Falk Personal Fees for conferences, advisory boards and consultancy: Abbvie, Takeda, Ferring, Pfizer, Johnson and Johnson, Lilly, Galapagos, Celltrion, Arena, BMS, Falk, Biokuris, Fresenius-Kabi, Thabor Bossuyt, Peter: Grant support for research from AbbVie, EG Consulting fee from AbbVie, Bristol Meyers Squibb, CIRC, Galapagos, Janssen, Jeito capital, Lilly, Pentax, Pfizer, PSI-CRO, Roche, Takeda, Tetrameros Speakers fee from AbbVie, AMC ICP, Amgen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celltrion, Dr Falk Benelux, EG, Galapagos, Globalport, Lilly, Medtalks, Materia Prima, Pentax, Springer Media Joshi, Namita: Namita Joshi is a full-time employees/contractor of AbbVie and may own AbbVie stock or options. Shukla, Nidhi: Full-time employee/contractor of AbbVie and may own AbbVie stock or options. Dubcenco, Elena: Full-time employee/contractor of AbbVie and may own AbbVie stock or options. Aponte, Fernando: Full-time employee/contractor of AbbVie and may own AbbVie stock or options. Perkovic, Ashley: Full-time employee/contractor of AbbVie and may own AbbVie stock or options. Panés, Julián: Personal Fees: J. Panés received consultancy fees/honorarium from AbbVie, Alimentiv, Boehringer Ingelheim, Ferring, Galapagos, Genentech/Roche, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen, Mirum, Nimbus, Pfizer, Progenity, Prometheus, Protagonist, Revolo, Sanofi, Sorriso, Spyre Therapeutics, Surrozen, Takeda, and Wasserman, and has served on data safety monitoring boards for Alimentiv, Mirum, Roche, Sorriso, Sanofi, and Surrozen

Abstract Background and Aims Upadacitinib (UPA)—an oral, reversible selective Janus kinase inhibitor—has a favorable benefit–risk profile for patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). We evaluated the benefit–risk of UPA in select subgroups with CD or UC. Methods Patients were randomized to UPA 45 mg (UPA45) once daily (QD) or placebo (PBO) induction for 12 (CD: U-EXCEED, U-EXCEL) or 8 weeks (UC: U-ACHIEVE, U-ACCOMPLISH). Clinical responders were re-randomized to QD UPA 15 mg (UPA15), UPA 30 mg (UPA30), or PBO for 52-week maintenance (CD: U-ENDURE; UC: U-ACHIEVE). This exploratory post hoc analysis assessed efficacy and safety outcomes (adverse events of special interest [AESIs]: serious infections, major adverse cardiovascular [CV] events, malignancies, and venous thromboembolic events) by CV risk, prior treatment failure, and age. Results This analysis included 1021 patients with CD and 1097 with UC during induction, and 673 with CD and 746 with UC during maintenance. Improved efficacy outcomes comparable to the overall study populations were observed with UPA versus PBO across subgroups. Patients receiving UPA30 generally showed numerically higher rates of improvements versus UPA15. AESI rates were generally comparable between UPA and PBO across subgroups except for numerically higher rates of herpes zoster and serious infections in CD with UPA. Conclusions UPA resulted in consistent benefit versus placebo across CV risk, prior treatment failure, and age subgroups. No treatment differences were seen in AESIs across subgroups except herpes zoster and serious infections, reinforcing the favorable benefit–risk profile for UPA in CD and UC seen in the overall study populations. Clinical trial numbers NCT02819635, NCT03653026, NCT03345836, NCT03345849, NCT03345823

Abstract Importance and Objective Upadacitinib, an oral, reversible Janus kinase inhibitor, is approved for the treatment of moderate-to-severe Crohn’s disease (CD). Limiting corticosteroid exposure is an important goal in treating CD. This posthoc analysis evaluated the corticosteroid-sparing effects of upadacitinib in patients with CD. Design and Setting This study included pooled data from two phase 3, multicenter, double-blind induction trials and one maintenance trial. Randomization was stratified by corticosteroid use at induction baseline, with a mandatory corticosteroid taper starting at induction week 4. Efficacy was evaluated by baseline corticosteroid use and by achieving corticosteroid-free outcomes through year 2 of maintenance therapy. Safety was also assessed. Results At baseline, 34.7% (234/674) and 35.7% (124/347) of upadacitinib 45 mg and placebo-treated patients were taking corticosteroids, respectively. At induction week 12 and maintenance week 52, higher rates of upadacitinib-treated patients were corticosteroid-free among all patients and among patients with baseline corticosteroid use compared with placebo; upadacitinib-treated patients achieved higher rates of corticosteroid-free outcomes, compared with placebo, including corticosteroid-free clinical remission (stool frequency/abdominal pain score [SF/APS]: 42.7% vs 16.1%; CD activity index [CDAI]: 41.2% vs 23.4%) and corticosteroid-free endoscopic response (37.0% vs 8.1%), with similar results observed among responders to upadacitinib induction therapy at maintenance week 52. Corticosteroid-free outcomes were sustained through year 2 of maintenance therapy. The safety profile was similar to the overall population, with no new safety risks identified. Conclusions and Relevance The results from pivotal studies demonstrated that upadacitinib effectively induced early and sustainable corticosteroid-free clinical remission with a manageable safety profile in patients with moderate-to-severe CD. Clinical trial identifiers U-EXCEL, U-EXCEED, and U-ENDURE ClinicalTrials.gov numbers, NCT03345849, NCT03345836, and NCT03345823.

Abstract Background We evaluated the association of achieving endoscopic outcomes at week 12 of induction with improvements in clinical outcomes and quality of life (QoL) at week 52 of maintenance in patients with moderately to severely active Crohn’s disease (CD) treated with upadacitinib (UPA). Methods This post hoc analysis evaluated data from 2 phase 3 induction trials (NCT03345836 and NCT03345849) and 1 maintenance (NCT03345823) trial. Clinical responders to 12-week induction therapy with UPA who also received 52-week maintenance treatment with UPA were included. Endoscopic response, remission, healing, and ulcer-free endoscopy were assessed at week 12. Meaningful improvements in clinical and QoL outcomes were evaluated at week 52. Results A significantly greater proportion of patients who achieved an endoscopic response at the end of induction, compared with patients who did not, attained Crohn’s Disease Activity Index (CDAI) remission (52.0% vs 34.6%; P ≤ .01), corticosteroid-free CDAI remission (50.0% vs 30.9%), Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire remission (52.6% vs 30.3%), and meaningful improvements in Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy—Fatigue response (46.7% vs 25.9%), overall work impairment (47.1% vs 26.5%), and daily activity impairment (53.3% vs 34.1%) (all P < .05) at week 52. Similar findings were observed for patients who achieved endoscopic remission, endoscopic healing, and ulcer-free endoscopy at the end of induction vs those who did not. Conclusions Early improvement in endoscopic outcomes after UPA induction treatment was associated with long-term meaningful improvements in clinical outcomes and QoL in patients with CD. Clinical Registration number U-EXCEED induction trial (NCT03345836), U-EXCEL induction trial (NCT03345849), and U-ENDURE maintenance trial (NCT03345823).