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May 5, 2026

Selective IL-23 inhibitors in ulcerative colitis: current evidence and perspectives for multimodal personalized treatment: a narrative review.

Key Points

The research aims to evaluate the efficacy of selective IL-23 inhibitors in ulcerative colitis and propose a personalized treatment framework.
Narrative review of evidence from Phase II and III trials of selective IL-23 inhibitors for ulcerative colitis.
Integration of noninvasive biomarkers, Mayo Endoscopic Subscore, and histopathological analysis for treatment selection.
Focus on patient subgroups with a history of anti-TNF therapy failure.
High rates of endoscopic and histologic remission observed with selective IL-23 inhibitors.
Safety profiles of IL-23 inhibitors are comparable to those of anti-TNF agents.
Potential for improved treatment response prediction and risk stratification using the proposed multimodal framework.

Abstract

The heterogeneity of ulcerative colitis (UC) results in variable biological responses. Although anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) agents remain a cornerstone of therapy, 30-40% of patients experience primary non-response, which is often linked to persistent activation of the interleukin-23 (IL-23) pathway. There is increasing evidence that the IL-23-Th17-neutrophil axis plays a central role in mucosal inflammation and treatment resistance. Phase II and III trials of selective IL-23 inhibitors for UC have demonstrated high rates of endoscopic and histologic remission, with safety profiles comparable to those of anti-TNF agents. These agents have demonstrated efficacy in various patient subgroups, including those with a history of anti-TNF failure. This supports their potential as effective alternatives to existing biologics. Based on these data, we propose a multimodal framework for personalized treatment selection that integrates three diagnostic pillars: (1) noninvasive biomarkers, such as serum leucine-rich alpha-2 glycoprotein and fecal calprotectin, to differentiate between systemic and mucosal inflammation, (2) the Mayo Endoscopic Subscore to guide therapeutic intensity, and (3) quantitative histopathology, specifically the Komagane subclassification of Geboes Grade 3, to identify IL-23-Th17-dominant activity. This integrative approach may enable predicting biologic responses, risk stratification, and the individualized use of selective IL-23 inhibitors. We propose this strategy as a model for generating hypotheses for future personalized medicine studies in UC.

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