Dubinsky, Marla C.

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.

Introduction: Pregnancy can be a complex and risk filled event for women with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). High-quality studies in this population are lacking, with limited data on medications approved to treat IBD during pregnancy. For patients, limited knowledge surrounding pregnancy impacts pregnancy rates, medication adherence, and outcomes. Limited provider knowledge leads to highly varied practices in care affected by local dogma, available resources, individual interpretation of the literature, and fear of harming the fetus. The variations in guidelines by different societies and countries reflect this and lead to confusion for physicians and patients alike. The Global Consensus Consortium is a group of 39 IBD and content experts and 7 patient advocates from 6 continents who convened to review and assess current data and come to an agreement on best practices based on these data. Methods: The GRADE process was used when sufficient published data were available and the RAND process in those instances where expert opinion was needed to guide consistent practice. Recommendations were informed by the guiding principle that maternal health best supports infant health. Results: The topics were divided into 10 categories with 34 GRADE recommendations and 35 Consensus statements. Discussion: Overall, the goal of the group was to provide data-driven and practical guidance to improve the care of women with IBD around the globe based on the best available research.

Abstract Background & Aims Pregnancy can be a complex and risk-filled event for women with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). High-quality studies in this population are lacking, with limited data on medications approved to treat IBD during pregnancy. For patients, limited knowledge surrounding pregnancy impacts pregnancy rates, medication adherence, and outcomes. Limited provider knowledge leads to highly varied practices in care affected by local dogma, available resources, individual interpretation of the literature, and fear of harming the fetus. The variations in guidelines by different societies and countries reflect this and lead to confusion for physicians and patients alike. The Global Consensus Consortium is a group of 39 IBD and content experts and 7 patient advocates from 6 continents who convened to review and assess current data and come to an agreement on best practices based on these data. Methods The GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) process was used when sufficient published data were available and the RAND (Research and Development) process in those instances where expert opinion was needed to guide consistent practice. Recommendations were informed by the guiding principle that maternal health best supports infant health. Results The topics were divided into ten categories with 34 GRADE recommendations and 35 consensus statements. Conclusions Overall, the goal of the group was to provide data-driven and practical guidance to improve the care of women with IBD around the globe based on the best available research.

INTRODUCTION: Many patients with chronic pouchitis and Crohn's-like disease of the pouch (CLDP) are treated with biologics; however, the comparative effectiveness of advanced therapies in this population has not been systematically evaluated. We sought to compare the effectiveness of antitumor necrosis factor α (anti-TNF) therapies and ustekinumab in patients with chronic inflammatory conditions of the pouch. METHODS: We conducted a prospective, multicenter, cohort study. We included patients with chronic pouchitis and CLDP initiating treatment with anti-TNF therapies or ustekinumab. The primary outcome was clinical remission at 6 months after induction. We also evaluated clinical remission at 6 months among patients with chronic pouchitis and CLDP separately. RESULTS: Among 132 patients, 106 (80%) had a diagnosis of CLDP and 82 (62%) initiated therapy with ustekinumab. A significantly higher proportion of patients with CLDP treated with ustekinumab were in clinical remission at 6 months as compared with patients treated with anti-TNF therapy (62% vs 40%, P = 0.027); however, there was no significant difference among patients with chronic pouchitis ( P = 0.946). There was no independent statistical significance in the odds of remission at 6 months among patients with CLDP among patients receiving ustekinumab compared with anti-TNF therapy (adjusted odds ratio 1.91, 95% confidence interval 0.69–5.30) after adjusting for presence of a fistula, number of preoperative advanced therapies, and number of advanced therapies after IPAA. DISCUSSION: These data suggest the potential benefit of ustekinumab in patients with CLDP and should prompt future novel effectiveness evaluations in this population.

Abstract Background Children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) may have diminished serologic response to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccination and increased risk for subsequent severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. We sought to describe outcomes among those who developed SARS-CoV-2 infection following vaccination, characterize SARS-CoV-2 antibodies 1 year post-vaccination, and identify factors associated with durable serologic response. Methods We recruited children with IBD who received ≥2 doses of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine and prospectively collected data on (1) demographics, IBD characteristics, and therapy and (2) SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, testing, and infection symptoms. Serum was obtained for measurement of anti-receptor-binding domain IgG antibodies following a 2-part immunization at 12 and 52 weeks. Results We enrolled 298 participants (mean age 11.9 ± 3.82, 50% female, 67% Crohn’s disease). Symptomatic COVID-19 infection after vaccination occurred in half of the participants, although only 2 (1%) required hospitalization. Anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) was associated with higher likelihood of symptomatic COVID-19 infection, with an adjusted hazard ratio of 2.7 (95% CI, 1.5-5.0; P = .001). Nearly all participants (99%) had detectable antibody at Week 52. Children aged 1-5 years had lower 52-week antibody level compared to older children (P = .04), as did those on anti-TNF-α therapy (P = .007) and those who received only 2 vaccine doses prior to Week 52 (P < .001). Conclusions SARS-CoV-2 vaccination provides lasting serologic response and protection against severe COVID-19 for most children with IBD, despite the use of lower vaccine doses in younger children and wide-ranging classes of immunosuppressive therapies.

Lay Summary In this prospective, multicenter observational study of highly refractory patients with Crohn’s disease of the pouch, risankizumab achieved the primary outcome of clinical remission in 50% and the more stringent secondary outcome of antibiotic- and steroid-free remission in 30.8% at 12 weeks.

AbstractChildren with very early onset inflammatory bowel disease (VEO‐IBD) may respond differently to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) immunization compared to healthy children or other patients with IBD. We recruited children with VEO‐IBD <6 years of age and younger following receipt of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) vaccine. Demographics, IBD characteristics, medication use, adverse events (AEs) and IBD exacerbations were collected. Blood draws (optional) were obtained for measurement of antireceptor binding domain (RBD) IgG antibodies following vaccination. Of 41 participants, none required emergency department visit or hospitalization due to AE, and only one experienced IBD exacerbation. Detectable antibody was present in 19/19 participants who provided blood sample; 6/7 participants (86%) had durable humoral response 12 months postvaccination. Children with VEO‐IBD experience robust humoral immune response to COVID‐19 immunization. Severe AEs were rare. These findings provide reassurance that children with VEO‐IBD respond well and safely to SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccination.

Abstract Background DEVELOP is a multi-center, global, prospective, observational, longitudinal registry of long-term safety of infliximab (and other treatments) in paediatric patients (pts) with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) &lt;18 years (yrs) at diagnosis. Over the course of follow-up, many pts required changes in therapy. Ustekinumab (UST) is approved for treatment of Crohn’s disease (CD) in adults and is currently being evaluated for safety/efficacy in paediatric pts. This report focuses on assessment of safety of UST in paediatric pts with CD from DEVELOP. Methods Data included paediatric pts treated with UST from 31 May 2007 through 30 June 2022; data are collected every 6 months. The analyzed population included: all paediatric pts (all pts), pts weighing &lt;40kg (&lt;40kg group), and pts weighing ≥40kg (≥40kg group). Assessments included medical and treatment history, UST exposure, adverse events (AEs), serious AEs (SAEs), CD-related SAEs leading to hospitalization, IBD surgeries, serious and opportunistic infections, malignancies, and deaths. Results A total of 150 pts received UST (49.3% females); 31 in the &lt;40kg group and 119 in the ≥40kg group (Table 1). Most treated pts (92.0%) were 12-17yrs. The majority (91%) of pts were initially dosed with UST every 8 weeks (q8w); at the last known dose, 64% received UST q8w and 22% q4w. Mean (SD) age of initial UST exposure was 15yrs (2.19). Prior IBD surgery was reported in 65.3% pts. The majority of pts (98%) had prior biologic therapy and 72% received ≥2 biologics prior to UST. Overall, 37/150 (24.7%) of pts discontinued UST during follow-up, with a mean (SD) time to discontinuation of 16.7 (17.00) months; 84/150 (56.0%) were exposed to UST for ≥24 months. Rates (events/100 pt-yrs) of AEs were higher in the ≥40kg group (177.62) than in the &lt;40kg group (101.27). Rates of SAEs were slightly lower among the ≥40kg group (25.42) vs &lt;40kg (32.67). There were no SAEs related to infusion or injection site reactions. Rates of serious infections and CD-related hospitalizations were low and similar between groups, and rates of IBD-related surgeries were similar between groups (Figure 1). One malignancy (malignant carcinoid tumor) was reported in a female (18yrs) in the ≥40kg group with a history of prior therapy with vedolizumab, methotrexate, and 6-MP. No deaths or opportunistic infections were reported. Conclusion The safety profile observed for this off-label use of UST in paediatric CD pts in DEVELOP was similar to that of the treated adult population, despite most paediatric pts having prior biologic exposure. No new safety signals are identified in this paediatric population.