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Abstract Background Perianal fistulas are common and cause significant quality of life impairment in patients (pts) with Crohn’s disease (CD). In previous phase 2/3 studies, ustekinumab (UST) showed some evidence of efficacy on fistula resolution, with no clear dose-response relationship. Additional studies are needed to evaluate the role of UST in perianal fistula treatment. Here, we report fistula data from two recent studies of UST in CD, SEAVUE and STARDUST. Methods In SEAVUE, biologic-naïve pts with moderate-to-severe CD were randomized to receive blinded UST (⁓6mg/kg IV at baseline then 90mg SC q8w) or adalimumab (ADA; 160/80mg SC at baseline/W2, then 40mg SC q2w). In STARDUST, biologic-naïve and biologic-failure pts with moderate-to-severe CD received open-label UST ⁓6mg/kg IV at baseline and UST 90mg SC at W8. At W16, pts were randomized to maintenance treatment under standard of care (90mg SC q12w or q8w) or treat-to-target (90mg SC q12w or q8w with potential adjustment to q4w) regimens. In both trials, the number of open and draining perianal fistulas was evaluated at baseline and the end of maintenance (SEAVUE W52, STARDUST W48). Fistula resolution was defined as closure of all fistulas. Pts with missing data at W52/W48 were considered to not have been in fistula resolution. In SEAVUE, pts who had a prohibited CD-related surgery, discontinued for lack of efficacy or an adverse event of worsening CD, or had prohibited concomitant medication changes before W52 were considered not to be in fistula resolution. Results In SEAVUE, 7 of 13 pts (53.8%) with active perianal fistulas at baseline in the UST group had complete fistula resolution at W52, and 6 of 16 patients (37.5%) in the ADA group had fistula resolution. In STARDUST, 9 of 19 pts (47.4%) with active perianal fistulas at baseline had complete fistula resolution at W48. Of the 9 pts in fistula resolution, 2 were receiving q12w at W48, 6 were receiving q8w, and 1 was receiving q4w. Of the 10 pts without fistula resolution, 2 were receiving q12w at W48, 3 were receiving q8w, 1 was receiving q4w and 4 discontinued before W48. In both studies, among pts with evaluable samples for pharmacokinetic analysis, fistula closure at W52/48 was not associated with higher serum drug concentrations at either the early time point of W16 or at the end of maintenance (Figure). This result was consistent for UST in both studies as well as ADA in SEAVUE. Conclusion Of pts with perianal fistulas at baseline in SEAVUE and STARDUST who received UST (32 pts in total), half were in fistula resolution after ~1 year of maintenance treatment. No relationship was observed between fistula resolution and serum drug concentrations, but no definite conclusions can be drawn given the relatively small sample size.

Abstract Background In VARSITY, the first head-to-head randomized controlled trial of biologics, vedolizumab (VDZ) was superior vs adalimumab (ADA) in achieving clinical remission (CR) at Week 52 in patients (pts) with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis (UC).1 Current treatment goals in UC are based on clinical symptoms and endoscopy, with histologic improvement considered an aspirational goal.2-4 In pts with CR in VARSITY, greater treatment differences between VDZ and ADA at Week 52 were seen in endoscopic improvement and histologic response. Here, data from VARSITY were used to define disease clearance: a novel composite outcome in UC comprising clinical and endoscopic remission plus minimal histologic disease activity. Methods VARSITY was a phase 3b, randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, active-control trial of treatment with VDZ (300mg IV Q8W) vs ADA (40mg SC Q2W) maintenance after induction. Pts were randomized in a treat through design, and no dose escalation was allowed. For these analyses, based on pts who completed the study until Week 52, disease clearance was defined as a composite outcome based on 1) CR: partial Mayo score ≤2 and no individual subscore >1 (excluding sigmoidoscopy subscore); 2) endoscopic improvement: endoscopic subscore ≤1; and 3) absence of active histologic disease (minimum histological disease activity [MHDA]): Robarts Histology Index (RHI) <5. Treatment failure was defined as discontinuation from treatment or completion of treatment but failure to achieve any of CR, endoscopic improvement, or MHDA. The rates of disease clearance and failures were compared between treatment groups and stratified by presence of inflammatory burden at baseline: C-reactive protein ≥5 mg/L and fecal calprotectin >100 µg/g. Results More pts in the VDZ treatment group than the ADA group achieved disease clearance at Week 52 (VDZ: 112/383, 29.2%, 95% CI 24.7-34.1 vs ADA: 63/386, 16.3%, 95% CI 12.8-20.4). Compared with treatment failures (VDZ: 92/383, 24.0% vs ADA: 134/386, 34.7%, Table 1), disease clearers had lower C-reactive protein (CRP) baseline mean values (7.4mg/L and 6.4mg/L vs 13.6mg/L and 9.4mg/L for disease clearers vs treatment failures, for VDZ and ADA, respectively). Fewer pts with inflammatory burden at baseline (CRP ≥5 mg/L and fecal calprotectin >100 µg/g) achieved disease clearance (Fig 1). Baseline corticosteroid use was more frequent in ADA disease clearers (42.9%) compared with VDZ disease clearers (32.1%). Conclusion Disease clearance is a novel and achievable composite outcome that is achieved by almost one third of pts in the VDZ treatment group in VARSITY. Analyses are ongoing to further characterize the trajectory leading to disease clearance as well as the role of baseline characteristics.

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 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