Study finds new treatment for ulcerative colitis (Tremfya)

Medical Xpress / Univ of Chicago Med Ctr / Am Gastroenterological Assoc’s Digestive Disease Week mtg ^ | June 17, 2024 | David T. Rubin, MD et a

[ConservativeMind]

A medication used for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis is proving to be an effective treatment for moderate to severe ulcerative colitis in the findings of a global study led by David T. Rubin, MD.

The medication, guselkumab (Tremfya), is an antibody that blocks IL-23, the cytokine that drives many immune diseases, including ulcerative colitis. It can be administered as an injection or through an infusion.

The Phase III QUASAR maintenance study showed that Tremfya can achieve symptomatic remission and also bowel healing, with a notably high rate of this important endpoint, Rubin said. The unique bowel healing capabilities help keep the disease in remission.

Nearly 50% of the patients in this maintenance study were in clinical remission after 44 weeks, meaning most or all of the disease's symptoms were gone, and 69% achieved endoscopic remission, meaning the physician saw no signs of inflammation, ulcers or bleeding in the bowel.

"It worked extremely well and maintained a clear response and remission," Rubin said. "And, similar to other therapies that target this and a similar mechanism, the safety is excellent."

The use of Tremfya to treat ulcerative colitis is now awaiting approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which is expected later this year or early next year.

"It's a really good option for our patients and colleagues to look forward to," Rubin said.

Rubin and his team continue to work on novel treatment strategies. They're looking at three things: combination therapies to treat inflammatory bowel diseases; medications that can shut down production of different inflammatory pathways and reset the immune system; and new approaches to reduce or de-escalate therapies.

[ConservativeMind]

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[roving]

I suffer from this disease. I have been in remission for quite a few years, though.

[the_Watchman]

I have suffered from this disease for 3 1/2 years while my doctors have tried a boatload of medicines with no positive results.

I am currently scheduled to get a colostomy, which will remove my large intestine.

The schedule in the article will not be in time for me to try it.

[telescope115]

I’m sorry to hear that. Are you sure they’ve tried all possible treatments? How about dietary changes? One groundbreaking book by Elaine Gottschall,

Breaking the Vicious Cycle-Intestinal Health Through Diet presents dietary changes one may make to not only ease the symptoms, but perhaps even make the disease almost go away. I do have it in my colitis “library”. Maybe you’ve seen it? There are others.

I have had UC for 30 years, and have been on various medications which did help. Now I’m receiving Entyvio infusions. I still have my colon, but lost my liver to Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis. After four years on the transplant list I was lucky enough to receive a new liver. I still have UC, and I was warned that it could happen again.

I wish you well, just make sure you’ve exhausted all other avenues.