Background Previously, we identified subsets of biologic-naïve patients (pts) with Crohn’s disease (CD) from the EVOLVE study who had higher rates of clinical remission (CR) [Fig 1] when initiating vedolizumab (VDZ) vs anti-TNFα treatment, using prediction models based on multiple baseline characteristics.1,2 To aid use in practice, we investigated whether these subsets could be identified using simpler rules based on fewer baseline characteristics. Methods Using data from EVOLVE, we used recursive partitioning and regression tree (RPART) classification to predict membership in the previously identified higher CR subsets for VDZ. The RPART algorithm repeatedly splits data, based on baseline predictors (demographics, prior treatments, clinical characteristics at treatment initiation, Charlson comorbidity index, prior extraintestinal manifestations [EIMs], and prior healthcare resource use). At each split, the predictor and its value as chosen by the algorithm to split the data were those that maximized the number of pts classified correctly. Simplified rules were developed from the resulting RPART decision trees. Analyses of the treatment effect of VDZ vs anti-TNFα were conducted in the subsets of pts identified by each rule. Results Pts with data on CR and candidate predictors were included (VDZ [n=195]; anti-TNFα [n=245]). Three simplified rules (A, B, & C) were identified (Table 1). Pt characteristics included in the rules (exacerbation ongoing at treatment initiation, no emergency department/emergency room (ED/ER) visits prior to treatment initiation, no fistulae at most recent assessment prior to treatment initiation, pre-initiation disease behaviour) were among the main predictors of CR in VDZ pts identified previously. Pts identified by Rule A comprised 32% of the EVOLVE population, and were those who 1) had an exacerbation ongoing at index, 2) did not have ED/ER visits prior to initiation and 3) had pre-initiation disease behaviour classified as other than stricturing with/without perianal disease. Among these pts, median time to CR for VDZ and anti-TNFα pts were 6.7 and 18.1 months, respectively (unadjusted log-rank p<0.001), and the adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of CR for VDZ vs anti-TNFα was 2.9 (95% CI: 1.7, 5.0). Rules B & C identified larger subsets in which VDZ vs anti-TNFα treatment differences were smaller but still statistically significant. Conclusion Simple rules were developed to identify biologic-naïve, CD pts in whom VDZ initiation appeared to have a larger effect on CR relative to anti-TNFα initiation. Validation of these rules in other data sources is important to confirm these findings; if validated, these simplified rules can inform targeting of treatment and optimization of outcomes for pts with CD treated with VDZ.
Background Anti-cytokine biologics (anti-TNF agents, anti-IL-12/23 agent) and gut-selective anti-lymphocyte trafficking agent (MAdCAM α4β7 blocker) are available treatment options for patients (pts) with moderate-to-severe CD. There are limited data on treatment persistence of these different MOA as 1L biologic treatment of CD in real-world setting. Methods This retrospective study used the Truven Health MarketScan administrative claims database to assess treatment patterns in a large U.S. insured population. Biologic naïve adult CD pts (CD diagnosed by using ICD 9 and 10 codes) who initiated (date of initiation defined as index date) 1L biologic treatment (adalimumab [ADA], infliximab [IFX], vedolizumab [VDZ] or ustekinumab [UST] between 09/2016 and 09/2019) with ≥6 months of continuous health benefits enrolment post biologics initiation were included. Treatment persistence was defined as time to index drug discontinuation with a pre-defined gap or switch to other biologic drugs. Results Overall, 2648 ADA, 1446 IFX, 474 VDZ, and 415 UST treated CD pts were identified. The mean age was highest for VDZ pts (45.5 y), followed by UST (42.2 y), ADA (40.1 y) and IFX (38.8 y). The use of corticosteroid in 12 months prior to 1L biologics was highest for ADA pts (74.3%), then UST (68.2%), VDZ (65.2%), and IFX (64.9%). Disease duration (time from the first observed CD diagnosis to 1L biologics initiation date) ≤ 2 yrs was found lowest in VDZ pts (48.1%), then UST (54.7%), ADA (59.6%), and IFX (67.6%). Fistulising condition in 12 months before 1L biologics was highest in IFX pts (11.9%), then UST (9.4%), ADA (7.7%), and VDZ (5.3%). Continuation on 1L biologics was highest in VDZ pts (59.1%), followed by IFX (58.0%), UST (57.6%), and ADA (50.8%). Treatment discontinuation was highest in UST pts (35.7%), then ADA (35.4%), VDZ (30.2%), and IFX (28.2%). Switch to 2L biologics was highest in IFX pts (13.9%), then ADA (13.8%), VDZ (10.8%) and UST (6.8%). Median treatment persistence was highest for VDZ pts (842 days), followed by IFX (770 days), UST (566 days) and ADA (507 days). VDZ pts showed higher treatment persistence than ADA pts (log-rank p-value=0.005) or UST pts (p=0.14). IFX pts had higher persistence than ADA pts (p<0.0001) or UST pts (p=0.07). The adjusted hazard ratio of treatment discontinuation, with VDZ as the reference group, was highest for ADA (1.36, p<0.0001), then UST (1.27, p=0.023) and IFX (1.07, p=0.45). Conclusion In biologic naïve CD pts, real-world evidence shows that VDZ is associated with longer treatment persistence when compared with any of the currently approved anti-cytokine biologics. With >2 years of treatment persistence, VDZ and IFX were significantly superior to both ADA and UST.
Background There is little long-term research (≥12 months) in ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD) patients investigating the impact on clinical effectiveness of combined (combo) therapy of vedolizumab (VDZ) plus immunomodulators/immunosuppressants (IMMs) compared with VDZ monotherapy. Research suggests the use of concomitant aminosalicylates [5-ASAs] in UC may not bolster effectiveness. Finally, it is unclear if the safety profile differs between VDZ monotherapy and combo therapy. This study described clinical effectiveness and safety outcomes in patients with UC or CD treated with first-line biologic VDZ as monotherapy or combo therapy with IMMs or 5-ASAs (UC only). Methods This was a real-world, multi-country (Canada, Greece and the USA), retrospective chart review study of biologic-naïve UC and CD patients (≥18 years old) treated with VDZ (initiated Tx May 2014–March 2018). Data were collected from Tx initiation to the earliest of death and chart abstraction date. Cumulative rates of clinical effectiveness outcomes over 24 months (Tx persistence, clinical response and clinical remission) were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method with unadjusted comparisons conducted using the log-rank test. Clinical response and remission were assessed from standard disease measures reported in medical records. Analyses of unadjusted incidence rates (per 100 person-years [PYs]) of disease exacerbations, disease-related surgeries, serious adverse events (SAEs) and serious infections (SIs) were performed. For these analyses in monotherapy vs. VDZ+IMMs, UC and CD patients were combined due to restrictions of sample size and a number of events. Results This analysis included 318 patients treated with VDZ (monotherapy: UC = 53, CD = 108; VDZ+IMMs: UC = 22, CD = 24; VDZ+5-ASAs: UC = 111). There were no observed differences in age, sex or disease duration between patients on monotherapy vs. VDZ+IMMs or vs. VDZ+5-ASAs. Data trends in effectiveness outcomes were similar in monotherapy vs. VDZ+IMMs over 24 months (Figure 1). Tx persistence (monotherapy: 71.6%; VDZ+5-ASAs: 82.7%; p = 0.40), clinical remission (monotherapy: 54.3%; VDZ+5-ASAs: 87.7%; p = 0.37) and clinical response (monotherapy: 81.7%; VDZ+5-ASAs: 92.2%; p = 0.54) were also similar between monotherapy and VDZ+5-ASAs over 24 months. Safety outcomes were similar between groups (Figure 2). Conclusion Though sample sizes were small, the unadjusted trends in the results of this long-term real-world study suggest that biologic-naïve UC or CD patients treated with VDZ alone may have similar clinical effectiveness outcomes to patients receiving VDZ+IMMs. Trends in data also suggest that in patients with UC, VDZ+5-ASAs may not be more effective than VDZ alone.
Background Crohn’s disease (CD) can lead to complications that impact treatment (Tx) decisions and its clinical effectiveness. The objective of this analysis was to compare clinical effectiveness outcomes of CD patients treated with first-line biologic vedolizumab (VDZ) who did not have a complicated disease phenotype (non-complicated) to VDZ patients who had complications (complex disease). Methods This was a retrospective real-world cohort study of biologic-naïve CD patients (≥18 years old) in Canada, Greece and the USA who initiated VDZ Tx between May 2014 and March 2018. Data were collected from Tx initiation to the earliest of chart abstraction date or death. The non-complicated CD was defined as patients who had mild or moderate disease severity and no active fistula at Tx initiation, had no prior CD-related surgeries since diagnosis and no CD-related hospitalisations within 12 months prior to Tx initiation. The complex disease cohort encompassed all other CD patients. Cumulative rates of clinical effectiveness outcomes over 24 months (Tx persistence, clinical response and clinical remission) were estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method. Using pre-defined hierarchical algorithms, clinical response and clinical remission were assessed from standard disease measures reported in the medical records. Results This analysis included 218 CD patients treated with VDZ (non-complicated: 64 (29.3%); complex: 154 (70.6%) from 37 sites. Mean (SD) age at Tx initiation: non-complicated, 46.2 (15.8); complex, 54.0 (16.7); male: non-complicated, 45.3%; complex, 55.2%. Cumulative rates of clinical response were significantly greater in non-complicated than complex disease patients over 24 months (non-complicated: 93.0%, complex: 76.0%, p < 0.01) (Figure 1). Tx persistence (non-complicated: 76.7%, complex: 66.6%, p = 0.68) (Figure 2) and clinical remission (non-complicated: 81.9%, complex: 73.5%, p = 0.36) (Figure 1) were not significantly different between the two cohorts over 24 months. Fewer patients had data for mucosal healing over 24 months, and it was also not significantly different between groups at 12 months (non-complicated: 66.4%, complex: 60.2%, p = 0.95). Conclusion A high proportion of patients (70%) had a complex disease when VDZ Tx was initiated but those with non-complicated phenotype had a higher response rate. To help guide physicians in positioning the optimal Tx for biologic-naïve CD patients, it is important to identify the sub-group of patients who can most benefit from VDZ Tx. The results of this real-world study suggest that the biologic-naïve, non-complicated CD patients benefit more from VDZ treatment compared with those with disease complications.
Background Patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) experience substantial impairment in quality of life (QOL). Patient QOL endpoints are important measures of treatment outcome. We evaluated the effects of intravenous vedolizumab vs. adalimumab on QOL in VARSITY, the first head-to-head trial comparing the efficacy and safety of biologics in patients with moderately to severely active UC. Methods VARSITY was a phase 3b, double-blind, double-dummy, randomised trial (NCT02497469; EudraCT 2015-000939-33). QOL was assessed using the inflammatory bowel disease questionnaire (IBDQ) at baseline, Week (Week) 30, and Week 52. Endpoints included clinically meaningful IBDQ improvement (defined as an increase in total score of ≥16 points from baseline to Week 52), IBDQ remission (defined as a total score of >170 points at Week 52) and change from baseline in IBDQ-specific domain scores (bowel symptoms, systemic symptoms, emotional function, and social function) at Week 30 and Week 52. Serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and faecal calprotectin (FCP) were also assessed as indicators of disease activity. Results Among randomised patients, 383 (vedolizumab) and 386 (adalimumab) patients received ≥1 dose of study drug (N=769). At Week 52, clinically meaningful IBDQ improvement was observed in 52.0% (vedolizumab) vs. 42.2% (adalimumab) of patients (treatment difference 9.7%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.7% to 16.7%), while IBDQ remission was achieved by 50.1% (vedolizumab) vs. 40.4% (adalimumab) of patients (treatment difference 9.6%; 95% CI, 2.8% to 16.5%). Mean (standard deviation [SD]) changes in IBDQ total score from baseline for observed cases favoured vedolizumab over adalimumab (Week 30: 61.3 [39.8] vs. 52.6 [42.8]; Week 52: 66.1 [41.8] vs. 60.4 [42.2]; Figure 1). IBDQ subscores showed similar favourable trends for vedolizumab (Figure 2). At Week 52, mean (SD) changes from baseline in CRP for patients treated with vedolizumab vs. adalimumab were –50.9 (174.8) nmol/l vs. –37.2 (169.2) nmol/l and for FCP were –2187.3 (7440.4) µg/g vs. –1846.6 (4560.6) µg/g (Figure 3). Among patients with FCP >250 µg/g at baseline, the proportion of patients achieving FCP ≤250 µg/g was 33.9% vs. 24.5% at Week 30 and 35.2% vs. 28.9% at Week 52 for patients treated with vedolizumab vs. adalimumab, respectively. Conclusion Based on IBDQ total score and subscores, more patients with UC treated with vedolizumab than with adalimumab achieved clinically meaningful improvement and clinical remission. Reduced inflammation, as indicated by improvements in CRP and FCP, was consistent with improvements in QOL.
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