Improving IBD outcomes in the era of many treatment options

Key advancesClinical trials of the IL-23p19 antibodies guselkumab and risankizumab have demonstrated that they are safe and effective for induction and maintenance of remission in moderately to severely active Crohn's disease1-3.A phase III trial of the novel Janus kinase inhibitor upadacitinib demonstrated its efficacy in patients with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis who either had or had not previously received biologic therapy5.A phase III trial of the oral integrin alpha 4 inhibitor carotegrast methyl (AJM300) demonstrated its efficacy as an induction therapy in mildly to moderately active ulcerative colitis; the drug is now approved for clinical use in Japan6.Head-to-head comparison of adalimumab and ustekinumab in moderately to severely active Crohn's disease in the SEAVUE study showed that their efficacy is similar8. Key studies published in 2022 highlight the emergence of several novel drugs for inflammatory bowel disease. Head-to-head trials and network meta-analyses have also been conducted to identify the sequencing of these treatments, but we still have a long way to go to achieve personalized medicine.