Loftus, Edward V.

Abstract Background Filgotinib (FIL), an oral preferential Janus kinase 1 inhibitor, was evaluated for the treatment of ulcerative colitis in the phase 2b/3 double-blind, placebo (PBO)-controlled SELECTION study (NCT02914522). Clinical, histological and endoscopic remission rates at week 58 were significantly greater with FIL 200 mg than with PBO (p < 0.025 for all comparisons). Here, we identify disease characteristics contributing to histo-endoscopic mucosal healing (HEMH; Geboes histological remission and endoscopic subscore ≤ 1) at week 58. FIL 100 mg data are excluded from by-treatment summaries because histological and endoscopic remission rates were not significantly different from PBO in SELECTION. Methods Eligible patients (18–75 years old) with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis were enrolled in Induction Study A (biologic-naïve) or B (biologic-experienced) and randomized to receive FIL 200 mg, FIL 100 mg or PBO (2:2:1) once daily for up to 11 weeks, with response assessed at week 10. At week 11, FIL responders were re-randomized 2:1 to continue their induction FIL dose or to receive PBO for the 47-week maintenance study. PBO responders continued receiving PBO. For the maintenance study, univariate logistic regression was used to identify baseline and week 10 disease characteristics associated with HEMH (defined as achieving both Geboes histological remission [Grade 0 of ≤0.3, Grade 1 of ≤ 1.1, Grade 2a of ≤ 2A.3, Grade 2b of 2B.0, Grade 3 of 3.0, Grade 4 of 4.0, and Grade 5 of 5.0] and an endoscopic subscore of 0 or 1) at week 58 for patients receiving FIL 200 mg; variables with p < 0.05 in the univariate analysis were included in a multivariate analysis. Results Patients had similar characteristics across the treatment groups for both the induction (Table 1) and maintenance studies (Table 2). HEMH was achieved in a greater proportion of patients receiving FIL 200 mg than those receiving respective PBO at week 58 (32.7% vs 10.2%; p < 0.0001). No associations between disease characteristics (at baseline and week 11) and HEMH at week 58 were found (Table 3). Conclusion FIL 200 mg was effective at establishing HEMH compared with PBO at week 58; there were no baseline characteristics identified to be associated with HEMH at week 58.

Abstract Background Risankizumab (RZB), an IL-23 inhibitor, is being investigated for Crohn’s disease (CD). MOTIVATE (NCT03105128) and ADVANCE (NCT03104413) were two double-blind, randomised, placebo (PBO)-controlled phase 3 trials evaluating the efficacy and safety of RZB as induction therapy for CD after inadequate response or intolerance to biologic treatment, or conventional or biologic treatment. We investigated the effect of RZB on patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in these two trials. Methods Patients with moderately to severely active CD (CD activity index of 220–450, Simple Endoscopic Score for CD excluding the narrowing component ≥ 6 or ≥ 4 for isolated ileal disease, and average daily stool frequency ≥ 4 and/or average daily abdominal pain score ≥ 2) were randomised 1:1:1 (MOTIVATE; N=569) or 2:2:1 (ADVANCE; N=850) to intravenous RZB 600 mg, RZB 1200 mg or PBO at Weeks 0, 4 and 8. PROs assessed were Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (IBDQ), Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue (FACIT-F), and 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF 36). Least-squares mean change from baseline to Week 4 and 12 were assessed for each PRO. Additionally, the proportion of patients achieving IBDQ remission (IBDQ total score ≥ 170 points) was evaluated. Comparisons between RZB dosage groups and PBO were based on Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel or chi-square/Fisher’s exact tests; missing data were reported using non-responder imputation. Results In the MOTIVATE (100% biologic inadequate responder [bio-IR]) and ADVANCE (57% bio-IR) trials, significant (P<0.05) improvements in nearly all PROs evaluated were seen as early as Week 4 (Figures 1–4). At Week 12, significant improvements in all PROs were reported for both doses of RZB compared with PBO in both trials, except for the SF-36 Mental Component Summary score (RZB 1200 mg in MOTIVATE), which improved, but not significantly. In MOTIVATE, at Week 4 and 12, IBDQ remission was achieved by significantly (P<0.05) more patients taking RZB (600 mg, 25.1%/38.3%; RZB 1200 mg, 31.9%/44.6%) than PBO (15.5%/26.8%). Results were similar in ADVANCE: RZB 600 mg 30.9%/44.5%, RZB 1200 mg 33.7%/51.5%, and PBO 18.4%/29.8% at weeks 4 and 12, respectively (P<0.001 for both RZB groups compared to PBO). Conclusion Patients with active CD and an inadequate response to conventional or biologic treatment who received RZB (600 mg or 1200 mg) induction therapy reported significant improvements in disease-specific (IBDQ) and general health-related PROs (FACIT and SF-36) compared with PBO, with improvements seen as early as Week 4. Funding statement: Study was funded by AbbVie. Acknowledgement: Medical writing support was provided by Joann Hettasch of Fishawack Facilitate Ltd, and was funded by AbbVie.

Abstract Background Upadacitinib (UPA) is a selective and reversible Janus kinase inhibitor.U-ACCOMPLISH is one of two phase 3 induction trials that evaluated the safety and efficacy of UPA 45 mg once daily (QD) in adults with ulcerative colitis (UC). Methods U-ACCOMPLISH was a multicentre, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (NCT03653026) that enrolled patients with moderate-to-severe UC (defined as adapted Mayo score 5–9 with centrally read endoscopic score 2–3) who had inadequate response, loss of response, or intolerance to aminosalicylates, immunosuppressants, corticosteroids and/or biologics. Patients were randomized 2:1 to UPA 45 mg QD or placebo (PBO) for 8 weeks. At week 8, responders entered the maintenance phase and non-responders entered the extended treatment period to receive open-label UPA 45 mg QD for additional 8 weeks.The primary endpoint (clinical remission per adapted Mayo Score) and ranked secondary endpoints including symptomatic, endoscopic– histologic evaluations from the 8-week PBO-controlled period are reported here. Non-responder imputation incorporating multiple imputation for missing data due to COVID-19 are reported. Results 522 patients were randomized (UPA, n=345; PBO, n=177); the intent-to-treat population included 341 patients in UPA and 174 patients in PBO group. Baseline demographics and disease characteristics were similar between groups; 50.7% and 51.1% were biologic inadequate responders in UPA and PBO groups, respectively (Table 1). A significantly higher proportion of patients receiving UPA 45 mg QD (33.5%) versus PBO (4.1%) achieved the primary endpoint (adjusted treatment difference: 29.0% [23.2, 34.7]; P<0.001). A significantly higher proportion of patients receiving UPA versus PBO also achieved all ranked secondary endpoints (all P<0.001; Figure 1).Serious adverse events were reported by 3.2% and 4.5% of patients in UPA and PBO groups, respectively (Table 2). Similar rates of serious infection were observed in both groups (0.6%); 2 events each of herpes zoster and opportunistic infection were reported in UPA group. No active tuberculosis, malignancy, adjudicated major adverse cardiovascular events, or deaths were reported in the study. One patient with venous thromboembolism (deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism) and 1 patient with gastrointestinal perforation were reported in the placebo group. Conclusion In U-ACCOMPLISH, 8-week UPA 45 mg QD induction treatment led to statistically significant improvements in clinical, endoscopic, and combined endoscopic-histologic endpoints. The treatment was well tolerated, and the safety profile and AE prevalence was comparable with previous studies of UPA with no new safety signals identified.

Abstract Background Filgotinib (FIL) is an oral preferential Janus kinase (JAK) 1 inhibitor in development for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. FIL for the treatment of moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis (UC) was evaluated in the phase 2b/3, double-blind, placebo (PBO)-controlled SELECTION study (NCT02914522) and its long-term extension (LTE) study (NCT02914535). Here we report safety results from the FIL UC program. Methods Patients received FIL 100 mg, FIL 200 mg or PBO (2:2:1) once daily orally for up to 11 weeks for induction (cohort 1). At week 11, FIL induction responders were rerandomized 2:1 to continue FIL or receive PBO maintenance for 47 weeks (cohort 2). Week 10 non-responders and patients with worsening disease during the maintenance study were eligible for open-label FIL in the LTE. Patients completing the maintenance study could continue blinded dosing in the LTE. Cohort 3 comprised cohorts 1 and 2 and the LTE. Exposure-adjusted incidence rates (EAIRs) and exposure-adjusted event rates (EAERs) per 100 patient-years (PYs) were calculated for treatment-emergent adverse events (AEs) by treatment group in cohorts 1 and 2 (EAIR) and cohort 3 (EAER). Results In cohort 1, 1069 patients received FIL and 279 patients received PBO; baseline characteristics were generally similar across treatment groups (overall mean age, 43 years; mean UC duration, 8.4 years; mean Mayo Clinic Score, 9.0). EAIRs for AEs of interest were similar across treatment groups in cohorts 1 and 2 (Table 1). Treatment exposure for PBO, FIL 100 mg or FIL 200 mg in cohort 3 (i.e. cohorts 1 + 2 + the LTE) was 318, 360 and 1207 PYs, and median treatment duration was 12, 11 and 67 weeks, respectively. One case of pulmonary embolism occurred with FIL 200 mg induction and three venous thrombosis cases occurred with PBO maintenance/LTE (cohort 3) (Table 2). EAERs for all infections were similar across treatment groups, the most common being nasopharyngitis (Table 2). Opportunistic infections were rare. EAERs for serious infections were low across treatment groups (2.2 [PBO], 3.5 [FIL 100 mg], 2.2 [FIL 200 mg]), the most common being appendicitis (Table 2). EAERs for herpes zoster (HZ) were low in all treatment groups (0.3 [PBO], 0.3 [FIL 100 mg], 1.8 [FIL 200 mg]) (Table 2). HZ infections were cutaneous only and only one was serious. EAIRs for all infections in cohorts 1 and 2 were generally numerically higher for both PBO and FIL in patients over (vs under) 65 years old and in those with (vs without) biologic treatment failure (Figure 1). Conclusion FIL was well tolerated in patients with UC. Aggregation of AEs typical for pan-JAK inhibition was not observed, consistent with preferential JAK-1 inhibition with FIL.

Abstract Background Endoscopic healing has become a critical treatment target in Crohn’s disease (CD). Risankizumab (RZB), a humanized immunoglobulin G1 monoclonal antibody against the p19 subunit of interleukin 23, is being investigated as a treatment for moderate-to-severe CD. This analysis assessed different endoscopic endpoints in patients treated with RZB induction therapy in two double-blind, randomised, placebo (PBO)-controlled studies (ADVANCE [NCT03104413] and MOTIVATE [NCT03105128]). Methods Patients with moderate-to-severe CD (CD Activity Index [CDAI] of 220–450, Simple Endoscopic Score for CD [SES-CD] ≥ 6 [≥ 4 for isolated ileal disease] excluding the narrowing component, and average daily [liquid/very soft] stool frequency [SF] ≥ 4 and/or average daily abdominal pain [AP] score ≥ 2) who had demonstrated prior inadequate response or intolerance to conventional and/or biologic treatment (ADVANCE) or to biologic treatment (MOTIVATE) were randomised 2:2:1 (ADVANCE) or 1:1:1 (MOTIVATE) to receive intravenous (IV) RZB 600 mg, RZB 1200 mg, or PBO at weeks 0, 4, and 8. This analysis evaluated the proportion of patients who achieved endoscopic remission ulcer-free endoscopy (ie, absence of ulcers), and composite endpoints of CDAI clinical response and endoscopic response, and enhanced clinical response and endoscopic response at week 12 (endpoints defined in Figure 1 footnotes). All endoscopies were centrally read by a blinded reviewer. Safety was assessed throughout the studies. Results In ADVANCE and MOTIVATE, 850 and 569 patients, respectively, were randomised and included in the intent-to-treat population for this analysis. At week 12 greater proportions of RZB- vs PBO-treated patients in both studies achieved endoscopic remission (P ≤ .001), ulcer-free endoscopy (P ≤ .01), CDAI clinical response and endoscopic response (P ≤ .001), and enhanced clinical response and endoscopic response (P ≤ .001; Figure 1). Treatment with RZB 600 mg or 1200 mg was well tolerated, and no new safety risks were identified.1,2 Conclusion Induction therapy with IV RZB 600 mg or 1200 mg resulted in improved outcomes at week 12 compared with PBO as assessed by endoscopy and by composite endoscopic-clinical endpoints in patients with moderate-to-severe CD. References

Abstract Background Filgotinib (FIL) is a preferential Janus kinase 1 inhibitor in development for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. SELECTION was a phase 2b/3 randomized, double-blind, placebo (PBO)-controlled trial to evaluate FIL for the treatment of moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis (UC) (NCT02914522). The aim of this post hoc analysis was to assess the speed of improvement in patient-reported outcomes (PROs) during FIL treatment. Methods Eligible patients who were biologic-naïve or -experienced were enrolled in induction study A or induction study B, respectively. In each study, patients were randomized 2:2:1 to receive FIL 100 mg, FIL 200 mg or PBO once daily orally for 10 weeks. In this post hoc analysis, data from daily patient diaries up to day 15 of induction, including Mayo stool frequency subscores (SF; range, 0 [normal] to 3 [≥5 stools/day more than normal]) and rectal bleeding subscores (RB; range, 0 [no blood] to 3 [passing blood alone]), were used to evaluate the proportion of patients achieving predefined subscores or subscore reductions. Results Induction studies A and B comprised 659 and 689 patients, respectively. Baseline characteristics were similar across treatment groups within induction study A and within induction study B. In induction study A, more patients treated with FIL 200 mg vs PBO reported a reduction in SF of ≥1 from baseline as early as day 6 (FIL 200 mg, 35.8%; PBO, 20.6%, p<0.01) and every day from day 10 (Figure 1), and a reduction in RB of ≥1 from baseline as early as day 4 (FIL 200 mg, 36.9%; PBO, 23.7%; p<0.01) and every day from day 7 (Figure 2). In induction study B, more patients treated with FIL 200 mg vs PBO reported a reduction in SF of ≥1 from baseline as early as day 2 (FIL 200 mg, 21.6%; PBO, 12.1%; p<0.05) (Figure 3) and a reduction in RB of ≥1 from baseline as early as day 3 (FIL 200 mg, 29.5%; PBO, 17.6%; p<0.01) (Figure 4). More patients receiving FIL 200 mg vs PBO achieved the composite score of RB=0 and SF≤1 as early as day 9 in induction study A (FIL 200 mg, 18.8%; PBO, 9.5%, p<0.05). More patients receiving FIL 200 mg vs PBO achieved the composite score of RB=0 and SF≤1 as early as day 7 in induction study B (FIL 200 mg, 10.7%; PBO, 4.2%, p<0.05). Conclusion In this post hoc analysis of induction study data from SELECTION, improvements in SF and RB were observed within the first week of therapy with FIL 200 mg, compared with PBO, in patients with moderately to severely active UC. These data demonstrate that FIL 200 mg has rapid onset of action, as assessed by PROs, in both biologic-naïve and biologic-experienced patients.

Abstract Background We studied the efficacy and safety of ustekinumab (UST) vs adalimumab (ADA) through 1 year in biologic-naïve patients (pts) with moderate-to-severe Crohn’s disease. Methods SEAVUE was a multicenter, randomized, blinded, parallel-group, active-controlled study in adults with CD Activity Index (CDAI) scores ≥220/≤450. Biologic-naïve pts failing/intolerant to conventional therapy with any size ulcer on baseline (BL) ileocolonoscopy were eligible. Pts were randomized 1:1 to UST (⁓6mg/kg IV at BL then 90mg SC every 8 weeks [Ws]) or ADA (160/80mg SC at BL/W2, then 40mg SC every 2 Ws) per US-approved regimens (no dose modifications). Primary endpoint was clinical remission at W52 (CDAI <150). Major secondary endpoints were corticosteroid-free remission, clinical response (≥100-point CDAI decrease from BL), remission in pt-reported CDAI components (PRO-2 symptom remission: abdominal pain mean daily score ≤1 and stool frequency mean daily score ≤3), and endoscopic remission (SES-CD score ≤3/0 for pts with BL score=3) at W52 and clinical remission at W16. Results 386 pts were randomized to UST or ADA. BL demographics and disease characteristics were balanced between groups and indicative of pts with early, moderate-to-severe CD (median CD duration, 2.58 years; CDAI, 289.5; SES-CD, 8.0). At W52, 65% of UST-treated and 61% of ADA-treated pts achieved clinical remission (Δ=4.0%; 95% CI, -5.5%, 13.5%; p=0.417). Major secondary endpoints, including endoscopic remission, were similar between groups (Table 1), as were remission rates at assessment points through W52. Some other secondary endpoints showed numerical (not statistical) differences between UST and ADA (Table 1). Key safety events are summarized in Table 2. Among UST-treated and ADA-treated pts, 34.0% and 40.5% had infections, 2.6% and 7.2% had serious adverse events (AEs) of worsening CD, and 6.3% and 11.3% had AEs that led to discontinuation (DC) of study drug, respectively. One ADA-treated pt had active pulmonary TB. Injection-site reactions associated with active treatment occurred in 1.0% of UST-treated and 10.3% of ADA-treated pts. Overall, 15.2% of UST-treated and 23.6% of ADA-treated pts DC before W52. Reasons for DC were primarily lack of efficacy (UST, 2.1% vs ADA, 5.1%), AEs (UST, 5.7% vs ADA, 10.7%), and withdrawal of consent (UST, 5.8% vs ADA, 5.1%). Time to treatment DC was longer with UST vs ADA (post hoc analysis). Conclusion Both UST and ADA were highly effective in this population of biologic-naïve pts. Rates of clinical remission at W52 were not statistically significantly different between treatment groups. DC rates were numerically lower for UST. Safety results were consistent with prior experience for both treatments.

Abstract Background and Aims Tofacitinib is an oral, small molecule Janus kinase inhibitor for the treatment of ulcerative colitis. Here, we evaluate the efficacy and safety of tofacitinib re-treatment following treatment interruption in patients with ulcerative colitis. Methods Here, patients with clinical response to tofacitinib 10 mg b.d. induction therapy were randomised to receive placebo in OCTAVE Sustain. Those experiencing treatment failure after Week 8 of OCTAVE Sustain entered OCTAVE Open and re-initiated tofacitinib 10 mg b.d. [re-treatment subpopulation]; efficacy and safety data are presented up to Month 36 of OCTAVE Open. Results Median time to treatment failure following interruption was 169 (95% confidence interval [CI], 94.0–179.0) and 123 [95% CI, 91.0–168.0] days for induction remitters, and induction responders but non-remitters, respectively. Following re-treatment with tofacitinib, rates (non-responder imputation after a patient discontinued; latest observation carried forward imputation after a patient advanced to a subsequent study [NRI-LOCF]) of clinical response, remission, and endoscopic improvement were 74.0%, 39.0%, and 55.0% at Month 2, and 48.5%, 37.4%, and 42.4% at Month 36, respectively. Among induction remitters and induction responders but non-remitters, clinical response rates at Month 36 were 60.6% and 42.4% [NRI-LOCF], respectively. Efficacy was recaptured regardless of prior tumour necrosis factor inhibitor failure status. The safety profile of tofacitinib 10 mg b.d. re-treatment was consistent with the overall cohort and demonstrated no new safety risks associated with exposure of ≤36 months. Conclusions Median time to treatment failure was numerically higher in induction remitters versus induction responders but non-remitters. Following treatment interruption, efficacy was safely and successfully recaptured with tofacitinib 10 mg b.d. re-treatment in a substantial proportion of patients [ClinicalTrials.gov:NCT01458574;NCT01470612].

Abstract Background Tofacitinib is an oral, small molecule Janus kinase inhibitor for the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC). We present integrated analyses of nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) incidence in the tofacitinib UC clinical program. Methods Nonmelanoma skin cancer events were evaluated from 3 randomized, placebo-controlled studies: 2 identical, 8-week induction studies (NCT01465763, NCT01458951), a 52-week maintenance study (NCT01458574), and an open-label, long-term extension study (NCT01470612). Cohorts analyzed were: Induction, Maintenance, and Overall (patients receiving ≥1 dose of tofacitinib 5 mg or 10 mg twice daily [BID]). An independent adjudication committee reviewed potential NMSC. Proportions and incidence rates (IRs; unique patients with events per 100 patient-years of exposure) for NMSC were evaluated. A Cox proportional hazards model was used for risk factor analysis. Results Nonmelanoma skin cancer was evaluated for 1124 patients (2576.4 patient-years of tofacitinib exposure; ≤6.8 years’ treatment). In the Induction Cohort, NMSC IR was 0.00 for placebo and 1.26 for 10 mg BID. Nonmelanoma skin cancer IR was 0.97 for placebo, 0.00 for 5 mg BID and 1.91 for 10 mg BID in the Maintenance Cohort, and 0.73 (n = 19) in the Overall Cohort. No NMSC was metastatic or led to discontinuation. In the Overall Cohort, Cox regression identified prior NMSC (hazard ratio [HR], 9.09; P = 0.0001), tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) failure (3.32; P = 0.0363), and age (HR per 10-year increase, 2.03; P = 0.0004) as significant independent NMSC risk factors. Conclusions For patients receiving tofacitinib, NMSC occurred infrequently. Older age, prior NMSC, and TNFi failure, which are previously reported NMSC risk factors in patients with UC, were associated with increased NMSC risk.