Crohn's disease: new Phase 3 data announced for STELARA

Phase 3 data presented at the 11th Congress of the European Crohn's and Colitis Organisation (ECCO) showed that treatment with STELARA® (ustekinumab) induced clinical response and clinical remission in adult patients with moderate to severe Crohn's disease who had previously failed or were intolerant to one or more anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha therapies (anti-TNF failure population). The Janssen Phase 3 UNITI-1 study, which included 741 people with Crohn's disease, achieved its primary endpoint with ustekinumab treatment groups demonstrating significantly higher rates of clinical response at week 6 when compared with the placebo group (p=0.003, p=0.002, respectively).1 Major secondary endpoints of clinical response at week 8 (p≤0.001) and clinical remission at week 8 (p<0.001, p=0.003, respectively) were also significantly higher among patients receiving ustekinumab compared with patients receiving placebo.¹

These latest findings follow Phase 3 results from the UNITI-2 study, which demonstrated the efficacy and safety of ustekinumab in patients who had previously failed conventional therapy, the majority of whom were naïve to treatment with anti-TNF-alpha therapy.² Regulatory applications seeking approval of ustekinumab for the treatment of moderately to severely active Crohn's disease are currently under review in Europe and the United States. Ustekinumab, which is approved for the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis and active psoriatic arthritis in many countries, is a monoclonal antibody that targets interleukin (IL)-12 and IL-23 cytokines, which are believed to play a role in immune- mediated diseases, including Crohn's disease.³

"Results from the UNITI-1 study show that ustekinumab therapy induced clinical response and remission in patients with moderate to severe Crohn's disease who had previously failed treatment with TNF inhibitors," said Professor Paul Rutgeerts, Professor Emeritus of Medicine and Former Director of the Multidisciplinary Department of Endoscopy, Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium, and ustekinumab Crohn's disease steering committee member. "With two Phase 3 induction studies demonstrating the efficacy and safety of ustekinumab in anti-TNF-alpha naïve, exposed and failure patient populations, we look forward to the forthcoming maintenance study findings. The need to induce and maintain control of disease symptoms is paramount in the treatment of Crohn's disease."

Patients participating in the Phase 3 UNITI-1 study received a single intravenous (IV) infusion of placebo, ustekinumab 130 mg or ustekinumab ~6 mg/kg (weight-tiered dosing: patients weighing less than or equal to 55 kg received 260 mg; patients weighing more than 55 kg and less than or equal to 85 kg received 390 mg; and patients weighing more than 85 kg received 520 mg) at week 0. All enrolled patients had previously failed or were intolerant to treatment with at least one anti-TNF-alpha therapy, and half of the enrolled patients had failed two or more anti-TNF-alpha therapies.¹

At week 6, 34 percent of patients receiving ustekinumab 130 mg and 34 percent of patients receiving ustekinumab ~6 mg/kg achieved clinical response, as defined by a reduction from baseline in the Crohn's Disease Activity Index (CDAI) score of at least 100 points, compared with 22 percent of patients receiving placebo (P = 0.002 for ustekinumab 130 mg; P = 0.003 for ustekinumab ~6 mg/kg).¹ CDAI is a symptom-based disease assessment tool commonly used in clinical trials to quantify Crohn's disease activity.

At week 8, 34 percent and 38 percent of patients receiving ustekinumab 130 mg and ustekinumab ~6 mg/kg, respectively, achieved clinical response, compared with 20 percent of patients receiving placebo (P < 0.001). In addition, 16 percent of patients receiving ustekinumab 130 mg and 21 percent of patients receiving ustekinumab ~6 mg/kg achieved clinical remission at week 8, as defined by a CDAI score of less than 150 points, compared with 7 percent of patients receiving placebo (P = 0.003 for ustekinumab 130 mg; P < 0.001 for ustekinumab ~6 mg/kg).¹

In addition to significant improvements in signs and symptoms as measured by CDAI, both doses of ustekinumab resulted in significant improvements in the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (IBDQ), a health-related quality of life measure for patients with IBD, as well as significant reduction in markers of inflammation, including faecal lactoferrin, calprotectin and C-reactive protein (CRP) (P < 0.001 for ustekinumab ~6 mg/kg; P = 0.012 for ustekinumab 130 mg).⁴

Through week 8 (placebo-controlled period), adverse events (AEs), serious AEs and infections were reported in similar proportions across ustekinumab and placebo treatment groups. One case of Listeria meningitis infection was reported in the ustekinumab ~6 mg/kg group. No malignancies, deaths, cases of tuberculosis or major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) were observed in patients treated with ustekinumab.¹

"We are pleased to share these important results from the Phase 3 UNITI-1 induction study, which complement Phase 3 results from the UNITI-2 study and further support regulatory applications submitted seeking approval of ustekinumab for the treatment of moderately to severely active Crohn's disease," said Newman Yeilding, M.D., Head of Immunology Development, Janssen Research & Development, LLC. "Janssen Immunology remains committed to the continued development of ustekinumab and the discovery of innovative medicines for the treatment of immune-mediated diseases."

About the UNITI-1 Trial

UNITI-1, a Phase 3, multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group study, evaluated the efficacy and safety of ustekinumab induction therapy in adult patients with moderate to severe Crohn's disease. Patients (n=741) were randomised equally to receive a single IV infusion of placebo, ustekinumab 130 mg or ustekinumab ~6 mg/kg (weight-tiered dosing: patients weighing less than or equal to 55 kg received 260 mg; patients weighing more than 55 kg and less than or equal to 85 kg received 390 mg; and patients weighing more than 85 kg received 520 mg) at week 0. All participating patients had previously failed or were intolerant to treatment with at least one anti-TNF-alpha therapy. The primary endpoint was clinical response at week 6, measured by the proportion of patients who achieved at least a 100-point reduction from baseline CDAI scores. Major secondary endpoints at week 8 included clinical response and clinical remission (defined by CDAI scores less than 150 points). At week 8, patients either transitioned to the IM-UNITI maintenance study or were to complete a safety follow-up period through week 20.¹

UNITI-1 is part of a comprehensive Phase 3 clinical development program investigating ustekinumab for the treatment of moderate to severe Crohn's disease.

About ustekinumab⁵

Ustekinumab, a human IL-12 and IL-23 antagonist, is approved in the European Union for the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in adults who failed to respond to, or who have a contraindication to, or are intolerant to other systemic therapies including ciclosporin, MTX or psoralen plus ultraviolet A (PUVA). Ustekinumab is also indicated for the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in adolescent patients from the age of 12 years and older who are inadequately controlled by or are intolerant to other systemic therapies or phototherapies. In addition, ustekinumab is approved alone or in combination with MTX for the treatment of active psoriatic arthritis in adult patients when the response to previous non-biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) therapy has been inadequate.

The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson maintain exclusive worldwide marketing rights to ustekinumab, which is currently approved for the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in 87 countries and psoriatic arthritis in 71 countries.