Abstract
Background
Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) are increasingly emphasized as endpoints in clinical trials of ulcerative colitis (UC). However, the prognostic value of early improvement in PROs for long-term outcomes remains unclear.
Methods
This was a post-hoc analysis of 611 vedolizumab-treated or adalimumab-treated patients in the VARSITY trial (Clinicaltrial.gov: NCT02497469). Stool frequency (SF) and rectal bleeding score (RBS) as reported in the Mayo score at post-induction (week 6 and 14) was assessed for their association with one-year endoscopic improvement (EI), defined as Mayo endoscopic subscore <2; histo-endoscopic mucosal improvement (HEMI), defined as EI and Geboes highest grade <3.2, clinical remission (CR), defined as total Mayo score ≤2; and PRO-2 remission, defined as RBS of 0 and SF ≤1. Multivariable logistic regression models adjusted for confounders assessed the relationships between post-induction PROs and outcomes of interest at one-year.
Results
Patients with severe SF at week 6 were significantly less likely to achieve one-year EI compared to those with non-severe SF [aOR 0.40 (95% CI: 0.24–0.68), p < .001]. Absence of rectal bleeding at week 6 was associated with greater odds of achieving EI at one-year [aOR 2.21 (95% CI: 1.58–3.09), p < .001]. These findings were consistent across comparisons at week 14. Similar findings were observed for the outcomes of one-year HEMI, CR and PRO-2 remission. No difference was observed between the modified partial Mayo score and modified PRO-2 score.
Conclusions
Post-induction PROs strongly predict the odds of CR and EI in UC and simplified evaluations can be used to assess early response to UC therapies.
Author contributions
ECLW: acquisition and compilation of data; statistical analysis; drafting of the manuscript; BH: drafting of the manuscript; PSD: study concept and design; data interpretation; drafting of the manuscript; JKM: study design; drafting of the manuscript; WR: study concept and design; acquisition and compilation of data; data interpretation; drafting of the manuscript; NN: study concept and design; acquisition and compilation of data; statistical analysis; data interpretation; drafting of the manuscript.
Disclosure statement
Neeraj Narula holds a McMaster University Department of Medicine Internal Career Award. Neeraj Narula has received honoraria from Janssen, Abbvie, Takeda, Pfizer, Merck, Sandoz, Novartis, and Ferring.
Parambir S. Dulai has received consulting and/or research support from Takeda, Pfizer, Janssen, BMS, Gilead, Novartis, Lily; Stock options DigbiHealth; Royalties: PreciDiag
John K. Marshall has received honoraria from Janssen, AbbVie, Allergan, Bristol-Meyer-Squibb, Ferring, Janssen, Lilly, Lupin, Merck, Pfizer, Pharmascience, Roche, Shire, Takeda and Teva.
Walter Reinisch has received support for the following:
Speaker for Abbott Laboratories, Abbvie, Aesca, Aptalis, Astellas, Centocor, Celltrion, Danone Austria, Elan, Falk Pharma GmbH, Ferring, Immundiagnostik, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, MSD, Otsuka, PDL, Pharmacosmos, PLS Education, Schering-Plough, Shire, Takeda, Therakos, Vifor, Yakult,
Consultant for Abbott Laboratories, Abbvie, Aesca, Algernon, Amgen, AM Pharma, AMT, AOP Orphan, Arena Pharmaceuticals, Astellas, Astra Zeneca, Avaxia, Roland Berger GmBH, Bioclinica, Biogen IDEC, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Cellerix, Chemocentryx, Celgene, Centocor, Celltrion, Covance, Danone Austria, DSM, Elan, Eli Lilly, Ernest & Young, Falk Pharma GmbH, Ferring, Galapagos, Genentech, Gilead, Grünenthal, ICON, Index Pharma, Inova, Janssen, Johnson & Johnson, Kyowa Hakko Kirin Pharma, Lipid Therapeutics, LivaNova, Mallinckrodt, Medahead, MedImmune, Millenium, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, MSD, Nash Pharmaceuticals, Nestle, Nippon Kayaku, Novartis, Ocera, OMass, Otsuka, Parexel, PDL, Periconsulting, Pharmacosmos, Philip Morris Institute, Pfizer, Procter & Gamble, Prometheus, Protagonist, Provention, Robarts Clinical Trial, Sandoz, Schering-Plough, Second Genome, Seres Therapeutics, Setpointmedical, Sigmoid, Sublimity, Takeda, Therakos, Theravance, Tigenix, UCB, Vifor, Zealand, Zyngenia, and 4SC,
Advisory board member for Abbott Laboratories, Abbvie, Aesca, Amgen, AM Pharma, Astellas, Astra Zeneca, Avaxia, Biogen IDEC, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Cellerix, Chemocentryx, Celgene, Centocor, Celltrion, Danone Austria, DSM, Elan, Ferring, Galapagos, Genentech, Grünenthal, Inova, Janssen, Johnson & Johnson, Kyowa Hakko Kirin Pharma, Lipid Therapeutics, MedImmune, Millenium, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, MSD, Nestle, Novartis, Ocera, Otsuka, PDL, Pharmacosmos, Pfizer, Procter & Gamble, Prometheus, Sandoz, Schering-Plough, Second Genome, Setpointmedical, Takeda, Therakos, Tigenix, UCB, Zealand, Zyngenia, and 4SC
No other authors have any relevant conflicts of interest.
Data availability statement
This publication (Vivli protocol #00007158) is based on research using data from Takeda that has been made available through Vivli, Inc. Vivli has not contributed to or approved, and is not in any way responsible for, the contents of this publication.