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Retrospective analysis finds effective and safe outcomes from switching JAK inhibitors in ulcerative colitis, highlighting treatment persistence.
Background Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKi) are a class of oral therapies indicated for moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis (UC), with three agents approved and broadly comparable efficacy and safety. Although no clear evidence shows that differences in target affinity influence response, switching to a second JAKi is sometimes attempted after failure or intolerance to the first. The main objective is to assess the effectiveness (defined as treatment persistence) and safety of a second JAKi after failure of the first one Methods This retrospective analysis is part of a 12-month, multicentre, ambispective observational study. We included patients who initiated a second JAKi less than 24 months prior to enrolment, following a first-line JAKi course. Demographics, disease features, and clinical, biochemical, and endoscopic data at baseline and at weeks 8, 26, and 52 were recorded in a REDCap database. Data are presented as frequencies and percentages. Treatment persistence was estimated with Kaplan–Meier survival analysis, and rates are reported both as observed and with non-responder imputation (NRI). Safety events were collected throughout follow-up. Recruitment for both retrospective and prospective phases is ongoing and will end in April 2026; this abstract presents preliminary. Results Data from 69 UC patients are currently available: median age 40 years (IQR 27–52); 30 (43.5%) females. Mean disease duration was 10.8±7.9 years. Disease extent: proctitis 3 (4.3%), left-sided colitis 29 (42.0%), extensive colitis 37 (53.7%). Eight patients (11.6%) were smokers, and 11.6% had other cardiovascular risk factors. Most patients (40, 57.9%) had prior exposure to ≥ 3 biologics or small molecules. Tofacitinib was the most common first JAKi (48, 69.6%) prescribed; among those who switched from tofacitinib, 9 (24.3%) moved to filgotinib and 28 (75.7%) to upadacitinib. Reasons for discontinuing the first JAKi were secondary loss of response in 42 patients (62%), primary non-response in 24 (34%), and intolerance in 3 patients (4%). At baseline, the mean Partial Mayo score was 5.1±2.3, and 20 (29%) were on systemic steroids. At week 26, treatment persistence was 87.0% (47/54) as observed and 68.1% (47/69) with NRI; at week 52 it was 85.1% (40/47) as observed and 58.0% (40/69) with NRI. Six patients experienced adverse drug reactions, none leading to discontinuation Conclusion Our preliminary findings suggest that switching from a first to a subsequent JAKi is effective and safe, including for patients with prior exposure to multiple biologic therapies. Further retrospective and prospective analyses will provide more precise estimates References: - Danese S, Vermeire S, Zhou W, et al. Upadacitinib as induction and maintenance therapy for moderately to severely active ulcer- ative colitis: results from the phase 3, multicentre, double-blind, randomised trials. Lancet. 2022;399(10341):2113-2128 - Sandborn WJ, Su C, Sands BE, et al. Tofacitinib as induction and maintenance therapy for ulcerative colitis. N Engl J Med. 2017;376:1723–1736 - Feagan BG, Danese S, Loftus EV Jr, et al.. Filgotinib as induction and maintenance therapy for ulcerative colitis (SELECTION): a phase 2b/3 double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial. Lancet 2021;397:2372–84 - Leo Boneschansker, Ashwin N. Ananthakrishnan. Comparative Effectiveness of Upadacitinib and Tofacitinib in Inducing Remission in Ulcerative Colitis: Real-World Data. Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology 2023;21:2427–2429 - C. Radia, R. George. JAK inhibitor safety in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: real-world data comparing the effect of JAK inhibitors on blood parameters and their clinical significance. Journal of Crohn’s and Colitis, Volume 18, Issue Supplement_1, January 2024 - Shuhei Hosomi. Efficacy of Upadacitinib As a Second-line JAK Inhibitor in Ulcerative Colitis: A Case Series. July 2024 Internal Medicine 63(13) - Dubinsky MC, Shan M, Delbecque L, et al.. Psychometric evaluation of the Urgency NRS as a new patient-reported outcome measure for patients with ulcerative colitis. J Patient Reported Outcomes 2022;6(1):1–15 - Yarlas A., Maher S., Bayliss M., Lovley A., Cappelleri J.C., Bushmakin A.G., DiBonaventura M.D. The Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire in Randomized Controlled Trials of Treatment for Ulcerative Colitis: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J. Patient-Cent. Res. Rev. 2020;7:189–205. doi: 10.17294/2330-0698.1722 Conflict of interest: Dr. Mendolaro, Marco: No conflict of interest Viola, Anna: No conflict of interest Ferracane, Concetta: No conflict of interest De Bernardi, Alice: No conflict of interest Savarino, Edoardo Vincenzo: No conflict of interest Quadarella, Alessandro: No conflict of interest Balestrieri, Paola: No conflict of interest Bodini, Giorgia: No conflict of interest Todeschini, Alessia: No conflict of interest Onali, Sara: No conflict of interest Ribaldone, Davide Giuseppe: No conflict of interest Gabrieletto, Enrico Maria: No conflict of interest Mazzuoli, Silvia: No conflict of interest Principi, Maria Beatrice: No conflict of interest Grossi, Laurino: No conflict of interest Daperno, Marco: No conflict of interest
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