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Background: Both vedolizumab and ustekinumab can be considered for the treatment of ulcerative colitis [UC], but head-to-head trials are lacking., Aim: We aimed to compare the effectiveness of vedolizumab and ustekinumab after anti-tumour necrosis factor [anti-TNF] failure in UC patients., Patients and Methods: In this multicentre study, we included consecutive adult patients with UC, with partial Mayo score >2 and prior anti-TNF exposure, treated with vedolizumab or ustekinumab between January 2019 and August 2022. Comparisons were performed using propensity score analyses [inverse probability of treatment weighting]., Results: Among a total of 293 patients included, 151 and 142 received vedolizumab and ustekinumab, respectively. After propensity score analysis, steroid-free clinical remission [SFCR] [partial Mayo score ≤2] was achieved at week 16 in 38.0% and 40.3% of patients treated with vedolizumab and ustekinumab, respectively (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.11, 95% confidence interval [0.39-3.13], p = 0.85). Rates of SFCR in patients exposed to one, two, and three lines of biologics/small molecules among patients treated with vedolizumab and ustekinumab were respectively 53.3% vs 62.1% [p = 0.52], 44.4% vs 33.8% [p = 0.52], and 2.6% vs 19.1% [p = 0.027]. Endoscopic remission [SFCR and endoscopic Mayo score ≤1] and histological remission [SFCR, endoscopic remission, and Nancy histological index ≤1] at week 16 were achieved in respectively 5.3% vs 17.5% (aOR = 3.77 [1.25-11.36], p = 0.018) and 2.1% vs 11.1% (aOR = 5.85 [1.47-23.30], p = 0.012) in the vedolizumab and ustekinumab groups. No difference regarding the risk of drug discontinuation between the two groups (aHR = 1.03 [0.51-2.08], p = 0.92) was observed. While no factor was identified for vedolizumab, primary failure to at least one biologic/small molecule (OR = 0.31 [0.11-0.82], p = 0.018) was significantly associated with a decreased rate of SFCR among patients treated with ustekinumab., Conclusion: While no difference in terms of short-term clinical remission was observed, ustekinumab appears to be more effective than vedolizumab in inducing endoscopic and histological remission at week 16 after failure of anti-TNFs in UC., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of European Crohn’s and Colitis Organisation. All rights reserved. For commercial re-use, please contact reprints@oup.com for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site—for further information please contact journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Background: Data on infliximab efficacy in bio-exposed patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) are limited., Aims: To evaluate infliximab effectiveness and its predictors in UC patients with prior exposure to subcutaneous (SC) anti-TNF agent., Methods: In this multicenter retrospective study (8 centers), we included all consecutive UC patients with prior exposure to subcutaneous anti-TNF, starting infliximab for symptomatic UC, excluding acute severe colitis. Corticosteroid-free clinical remission (CFREM) was assessed at week 14 (W14) and W52 while endoscopic improvement (CFREM + endoscopic Mayo score≤1) was evaluated at W14., Results: Overall, 104 patients were included (pancolitis=54.8%, primary failure to subcutaneous anti-TNF=57.4%, concomitant immunosuppressant=53.8%, median partial Mayo score at baseline=7[5-8]). The rate of CFREM was 33.6% (35/104) at W14 and 40.4% (42/104) at W52. At W14, endoscopic improvement was achieved in 29.8%(31/104). In multivariable analysis, concomitant immunosuppressant was associated with higher rate of CFREM at W14(OR=2.83[1.06-7.54], p = 0.037) and W52(OR=2.68[1.16-6.22];p = 0.021), while primary failure to a previous subcutaneous anti-TNF agent led to lower rate of CFREM at W14 (OR=0.37[0.14-0.98], p = 0.046). After a median follow-up of 20.9 months[11.7-33.7]), 50.0%(52/104) patients had discontinued infliximab., Conclusion: Infliximab is an effective option in UC patients previously exposed to prior subcutaneous anti-TNF agent and should be used with concomitant immunosuppressant., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Vedolizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody that binds to the human a4β7 integrin and is approved for use in inflammatory bowel diseases. We describe a patient with severe, refractory erosive gingivostomatitis, which appeared a few days after the first dose of vedolizumab and resolved after discontinuation of the drug. We believe the gingivostomatitis to be a direct side effect of vedolizumab, rather than an extraintestinal manifestation of the underlying inflammatory bowel diseases. The clinicians need to be aware of this adverse event, which could be mistakenly considered as an extraintestinal manifestation of inflammatory bowel diseases.

Background and Aim: It is unclear whether vedolizumab therapy can be discontinued in patients with inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] after achieving steroid-free clinical remission. The aim was to assess the risk of relapse after vedolizumab therapy was discontinued., Methods: This was a retrospective observational study, collecting data from 21 tertiary centres affiliated with the GETAID from January 2017 to April 2019. Consecutive patients with IBD, who were in steroid-free clinical remission for at least 3 months and were treated with vedolizumab for at least 6 months, were included at the time of vedolizumab discontinuation., Results: A total of 95 patients [58 with Crohn's disease] discontinued vedolizumab after a median duration of therapy of 17.5 [10.6-25.4] months. After a median follow-up period of 11.2 [5.8-17.7] months, 61 [64%] patients experienced disease relapse. The probabilities of relapse-free survival were 83%, 59%, and 36% at 6, 12, and 18 months, respectively. According to the multivariate analysis, a C-reactive protein level less than 5 mg/L at vedolizumab discontinuation (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.56, 95% confidence interval [CI] [0.33-0.95], p = 0.03) and discontinuation due to patients' elective choice (HR = 0.41, 95% CI [0.21-0.80], p = 0.009) were significantly associated with a lower risk of relapse. Re-treatment with vedolizumab was noted in 24 patients and provided steroid-free clinical remission in 71% and 62.5% at Week 14 and after a median follow-up of 11.0 [5.4-13.3] months, respectively, without any infusion reactions., Conclusions: In this retrospective study, two-thirds of patients with IBD treated with vedolizumab experienced relapse within the first year after vedolizumab discontinuation. Re-treatment with vedolizumab was effective in two-thirds of patients., (Copyright © 2020 European Crohn’s and Colitis Organisation (ECCO). Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Background: There has been limited evaluation of the association between vedolizumab trough concentration and clinical outcomes in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD)., Aim: To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the potential role of therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) for vedolizumab., Methods: Through a systematic literature search through 28 February 2019, we identified five cohort studies (558 patients, 42% with ulcerative colitis) reporting the association between vedolizumab trough concentration and clinical outcomes in patients with IBD. We calculated mean difference (MD) in vedolizumab trough concentration in patients achieving vs not achieving clinical outcomes, and qualitatively synthesized thresholds associated with favourable outcomes., Results: In patients with UC, median vedolizumab trough concentrations were consistently higher in patients achieving clinical remission (median, 14.3 μg/mL vs 10.5 μg/mL; MD, 5.1 μg/mL, 95% CI, 2.8-7.4) or endoscopic remission (median, 13.0 μg/mL vs 9.7; MD, 5.1 μg/mL, 95% CI, 2.2-7.9). In patients with CD, there was no significant difference in median vedolizumab trough concentrations in patients achieving vs not achieving clinical remission (MD, 2.0 μg/mL; 95% CI, -0.5 to 4.5) or endoscopic remission (MD, 3.6 μg/mL; 95% CI, -1.4 to 8.6). In patients with UC, week 6 vedolizumab trough concentrations ≥18.5-20.8 μg/mL, and maintenance trough concentrations ≥9.0-12.6 μg/mL were associated with favourable clinical outcomes. Antibodies to vedolizumab were reported in 1.7%-3.0% patients on maintenance therapy., Conclusion: Based on meta-analysis, patients with UC who achieve endoscopic and clinical remission have significantly higher vedolizumab trough concentration during maintenance therapy. Vedolizumab trough concentration >20 μg/mL at week 6, and >12 μg/mL during maintenance may be associated with better outcomes, though cause-effect relationship remains unclear. Prospective studies on reactive and proactive therapeutic drug monitoring of vedolizumab (vs empiric dose escalation) are warranted., (© 2019 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Whether vedolizumab may be effective as a treatment for primary sclerosing cholangitis [PSC] in patients with inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] remains controversial., Methods: We performed a retrospective observational study of consecutive patients with IBD and PSC, treated with vedolizumab for at least 30 weeks in 22 centres of GETAID from January 2015 to June 2016. The outcomes included a decrease in the serum alkaline phosphatase [ALP] concentration of at least 50% from baseline to Week 30 or 54, a change in any serum liver enzymes concentrations, and an assessment of the efficacy and safety of vedolizumab in IBD., Results: Among 75 patients with active IBD and PSC treated with vedolizumab, 21 patients discontinued vedolizumab before Week 30 [due to lack of efficacy in 19 and malignancy in two patients]. In the remaining 54 patients, a decrease in the serum ALP concentration of at least 50% from baseline to Weeks 30 and 54 was observed in four [7%] and four [11%] patients, respectively. No significant change was observed in serum liver enzyme concentrations at week 30 or 54. After a median follow-up period of 19.4 [14.0-29.9] months, nine cases of digestive neoplasia [colorectal neoplasia in seven and cholangiocarcinoma in two] were reported., Conclusions: In patients with IBD and PSC, vedolizumab did not improve serum liver enzyme concentrations at week 30 or 54. Nine cases of digestive cancer occurred during the follow-up period, confirming the need for a tight surveillance programme in this population., (Copyright © 2019 European Crohn’s and Colitis Organisation (ECCO). Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Background: Cohort studies have described the short-term effectiveness and safety of vedolizumab in treating patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), but data beyond 1 year are lacking., Aim: To assess the effectiveness and safety of vedolizumab after 162 weeks in patients with UC and CD., Methods: Between June and December 2014, 294 patients including 173 patients with CD and 121 with UC were treated with vedolizumab induction therapy. Among them, 149 continued to be treated with vedolizumab beyond week 54 (78 patients with CD and 71 with UC). Disease activity was assessed using the Harvey-Bradshaw Index for CD and the partial Mayo Clinic score for UC. The primary outcome was steroid-free clinical remission at week 162, computed for the whole population included at week 0., Results: Steroid-free clinical remission rates at week 162 were 19.9% and 36.1% in patients with CD and UC respectively. Vedolizumab dose optimisation to 300 mg every 4 weeks instead of 300 mg every 8 weeks was at investigator's discretion and occurred in 58.7% and 52.1% of patients with CD and UC respectively. The 1-, 2- and 3-year persistence rates of vedolizumab were 48.5%, 31.4% and 26.3% respectively, in patients with CD and 61.0%, 49.9% and 42.9% respectively, in patients with UC. No new safety signal was identified., Conclusion: Vedolizumab is able to maintain steroid-free clinical remission in patients with UC and CD up to week 162. Loss of response resulting in discontinuation of vedolizumab occurred in 10% of patients per year., (© 2019 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background & Aims: Little is known about long-term outcomes of patients with Crohn's disease (CD) after infliximab withdrawal. We aimed to describe the long-term outcomes of patients with CD in clinical remission after infliximab treatment was withdrawn., Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of data from the 115 patients included in the infliximab discontinuation in patients with CD in stable remission on combined therapy with antimetabolites (STORI) study, performed at 20 centers in France and Belgium from March 2006 through December 2009. The STORI cohort was a prospective analysis of risk and factors associated with relapse following withdrawal of maintenance therapy with infliximab, maintained on antimetabolites, while in clinical remission. We collected data from the end of the study until the last available follow-up examination on patient surgeries, new complex perianal lesions (indicating major complications), and need for and outcomes of restarting therapy with infliximab or another biologic agent. The de-escalation strategy was considered to have failed when a major complication or infliximab restart failure occurred., Results: Of the 115 patients initially included, data from 102 patients (from 19 of the 20 study centers) were included in the final analysis. The median follow-up time was 7 years. Twenty-one percent of the patients did not restart treatment with infliximab or another biologic agent and did not have a major complication 7 years after infliximab withdrawal (95% CI, 13.1-30.3). Among patients who restarted infliximab, treatment failed for 30.1% 6 years after restarting (95% CI, 18.5-42.5). Overall, at 7 years after stopping infliximab therapy, major complications occurred in 18.5% of patients (95% CI, 10.2-26.8) whereas 70.2% of patients had no failure of the de-escalation strategy (95% CI, 60.2-80.1). Factors independently associated with major complications were upper-gastrointestinal location of disease, white blood cell count ≥ 5.0 × 10 9 /L, and hemoglobin level ≤12.5 g/dL at the time of infliximab withdrawal. Patients with at least 2 of these factors had a more than 40% risk of major complication in the 7 years following infliximab withdrawal., Conclusions: In a long-term follow-up of the STORI cohort (7 years) one fifth of the patients did not restart infliximab or another biologic agent and did not develop major complications. Seventy percent of patients had no failure of the de-escalation strategy (no major complication and no failure of infliximab restart)., (Copyright © 2018 AGA Institute. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Ciclosporin and infliximab have demonstrated short-term similar efficacy as second-line therapies in patients with acute severe UC (ASUC) refractory to intravenous steroids. The aim of this study was to assess long-term outcome of patients included in a randomised trial comparing ciclosporin and infliximab., Design: Between 2007 and 2010, 115 patients with steroid-refractory ASUC were randomised in 29 European centres to receive ciclosporin or infliximab in association with azathioprine. Patients were followed until death or last news up to January 2015. Colectomy-free survival rates at 1 and 5 years and changes in therapy were estimated through Kaplan-Meier method and compared between initial treatment groups through log-rank test., Results: After a median follow-up of 5.4 years, colectomy-free survival rates (95% CI) at 1 and 5 years were, respectively, 70.9% (59.2% to 82.6%) and 61.5% (48.7% to 74.2%) in patients who received ciclosporin and 69.1% (56.9% to 81.3%) and 65.1% (52.4% to 77.8%) in those who received infliximab (p=0.97). Cumulative incidence of first infliximab use at 1 and 5 years in patients initially treated with ciclosporin was, respectively, 45.7% (32.6% to 57.9%) and 57.1% (43.0% to 69.0%). Only four patients from the infliximab group were subsequently switched to ciclosporin. Three patients died during the follow-up, none directly related to UC or its treatment., Conclusions: In this cohort of patients with steroid-refractory ASUC initially treated by ciclosporin or infliximab, long-term colectomy-free survival was independent from initial treatment. These long-term results further confirm a similar efficacy and good safety profiles of both drugs and do not favour one drug over the other., Trial Registration Number: EudraCT: 2006-005299-42; ClinicalTrials.gouv number: NCT00542152; post-results., Competing Interests: Competing interests: DL: consulting and/or lecture fees from Abbvie, Ferring, Janssen, MSD, Pfizer, Takeda. AB: consulting and/or lecture fees from Abbvie, Ferring, MSD, Pfizer, Takeda. MA: consulting and/or lecture fees from Janssen, MSD, Takeda. YB: consulting and/or lecture fees from Abbvie, Ferring, Hospira, Janssen, MSD, Pfizer, Takeda. JF: consulting and/or lecture fees from Abbvie, Ferring, MSD, Takeda. FZ: lecture fees for Abbvie, Takeda. GS: lecture fees from Abbvie, Ferring, MSD, Takeda. LV: lecture fees from Abbvie, Ferring, MSD, Hospira and Takeda and consulting fees from Abbvie. JM: lecture fees from Abbvie, Ferring, MSD, Takeda. AA: consulting and/or lecture fees from Abbvie, Ferring, MSD, Takeda. JC: consulting fees from Abbvie, Vifor. ER: consulting and/or lecture fees from Abbvie, MSD. OD: lecture fees from MSD. AL-S: lecture fees from Abbvie, MSD. MF: lecture fees from Abbvie, MSD, Takeda. GB: lecture fees from Abbvie, MSD, Takeda. BC: lecture fees from Abbvie, MSD. XR: consulting and/or lecture fees from Abbvie, Ferring, Janssen, MSD, Pfizer, Takeda, Theradiag. GvA: consulting and/or lecture fees and research support from MSD, Novartis. ME: consulting and/or lecture fees for MSD, Abbott, Shire Pharmaceuticals. JPG: consulting and/or lecture fees Abbvie, Janssen, Hospira, MSD, Pfizer, Takeda. PM: consulting and/or lecture fees from Abbvie, Ferring, MSD, Pfizer, Takeda. SN: consulting and/or lecture fees from Abbvie, Ferring, MSD, Takeda. MdV: consulting and/or lecture fees from Abbott, Ferring, MSD. EL: research grants from AstraZeneca, Schering-Plough; consulting and/or lecture fees from Abbott, Abbvie, AstraZeneca, Ferring, Schering-Plough, MSD, Chiesi, Menarini, Millenium, Mitsubishi Pharma, Nycomed, Falk, Takeda, UCB., (Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/.)

Background: Anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) agents have improved the care of Crohn's disease (CD). After the first anti-TNF discontinuation, it is possible to switch to another anti-TNF. Three anti-TNF agents are available for ulcerative colitis (infliximab, adalimumab and golimumab), but only the first 2 have been approved for CD because golimumab has not been studied for this indication., Aim: To report the efficacy and safety of golimumab in CD., Methods: Crohn's disease patients who received golimumab were identified in 12 French tertiary centres and were retrospectively analysed. The primary endpoint was the duration of golimumab treatment before escalation or discontinuation. The clinical response was defined as a decrease of more than 3 points in the Harvey-Bradshaw index or by global physician assessment., Results: One hundred and fifteen patients were included. The golimumab treatment duration was 9.8 months (0.55-44), and 48.7% of the patients were still under treatment at the end of follow-up. Clinical response was observed in 55.8% of the patients after a mean duration of 3.8 months. The probability of remaining under treatment without escalation at 6, 12 and 24 months was 54.6%, 34.9% and 19.3% respectively. In multivariate analysis, discontinuation of the first anti-TNF agent due to intolerance (odds ratio, OR = 2.16; 95% CI, confidence interval [1.25-3.86]; P = .005) and co-immunosuppression for more than 6 months (OR = 3.98; 95% CI [2.3-7.1]; P < .0001) were predictive factors of efficacy. Six per cent of the patients discontinued treatment due to intolerance., Conclusion: After failure of infliximab or adalimumab for Crohn's disease, golimumab was safe and seemed beneficial in half of the patients., (© 2017 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background & Aims: Parenteral methotrexate is an effective treatment for patients with Crohn's disease, but has never been adequately evaluated in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). We conducted a randomized controlled trial to determine its safety and efficacy in patients with steroid-dependent UC., Methods: We performed a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy of parenteral methotrexate (25 mg/wk) in 111 patients with corticosteroid-dependent UC at 26 medical centers in Europe from 2007 through 2013. Patients were given prednisone (10 to 40 mg/d) when the study began and were randomly assigned to groups (1:1) given placebo or methotrexate (intramuscularly or subcutaneously, 25 mg weekly) for 24 weeks. The primary end point was steroid-free remission (defined as a Mayo score ≤2 with no item >1 and complete withdrawal of steroids) at week 16. Secondary endpoints included clinical remission (defined as a Mayo clinical subscore ≤2 with no item >1) and endoscopic healing without steroids at weeks 16 and/or 24, remission without steroids at week 24, and remission at both weeks 16 and 24., Results: Steroid-free remission at week 16 was achieved by 19 of 60 patients given methotrexate (31.7%) and 10 of 51 patients given placebo (19.6%)--a difference of 12.1% (95% confidence interval [CI]: -4.0% to 28.1%; P = .15). The proportion of patients in steroid-free clinical remission at week 16 was 41.7% in the methotrexate group and 23.5% in the placebo group, for a difference of 18.1% (95% CI: 1.1% to 35.2%; P = .04). The proportions of patients with steroid-free endoscopic healing at week 16 were 35% in the methotrexate group and 25.5% in the placebo group--a difference of 9.5% (95% CI: -7.5% to 26.5%; P = .28). No differences were observed in other secondary end points. More patients receiving placebo discontinued the study because of adverse events (47.1%), mostly caused by UC, than patients receiving methotrexate (26.7%; P = .03). A higher proportion of patients in the methotrexate group had nausea and vomiting (21.7%) than in the placebo group (3.9%; P = .006)., Conclusions: In a randomized controlled trial, parenteral methotrexate was not superior to placebo for induction of steroid-free remission in patients with UC. However, methotrexate induced clinical remission without steroids in a significantly larger percentage of patients, resulting in fewer withdrawals from therapy due to active UC. ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT00498589., (Copyright © 2016 AGA Institute. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)