Vedolizumab Is Safe and Efficacious for the Treatment of Pediatric-Onset Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients Who Fail a Primary Biologic Agent

BACKGROUND: Vedolizumab (VDZ) is currently licensed for use in adults for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We aimed to investigate the clinical course of pediatric-onset IBD following treatment with VDZ as more than a secondary biologic agent. We also evaluated factors associated with secondary loss of response (LOR) and durability of VDZ treatment. METHODS: Pediatric-onset IBD patients diagnosed at an age younger than 18 years who had received VDZ as more than a secondary biologic agent were included in this retrospective observational study conducted at the Department of Pediatrics of two centers in Korea. Comparative analysis was conducted between groups divided according to the development of secondary LOR during VDZ treatment. No adverse events were observed during treatment with VDZ. CONCLUSION: VDZ is safe and efficacious for the treatment of pediatric-onset IBD patients failing a primary biologic agent. The durability of VDZ may be enhanced by introducing VDZ earlier in the disease course. Further prospective studies in children are required in the future to validate these findings.