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Use of STELARA in Combination with Immunomodulators, 5-ASAs, and Corticosteroids in Ulcerative Colitis

Last Updated: 01/02/2025

SUMMARY

  • The company cannot recommend any practices, procedures, or usage that deviate from the approved labeling.
  • Please refer to your local labeling for relevant information on the use of STELARA in combination with immunomodulators, 5-aminosalicylates (5-ASAs), and corticosteroids in ulcerative colitis (UC).
  • Analysis of remission rates for STELARA vs placebo based on concomitant UC therapy from the phase 3, randomized UNIFI induction (8-week) and maintenance (44-week) studies and the open-label long-term extension (LTE) in adult patients with moderately to severely active UC are presented below1-5
  • Additionally, pharmacokinetic analyses of data from the 52-week UNIFI induction and maintenance studies demonstrated that serum ustekinumab concentrations were not affected by concomitant immunomodulator therapy (azathioprine [AZA], 6-mercaptopurine [6-MP], or methotrexate [MTX]).6

CLINICAL DATA

Phase 3 Randomized Clinical Trial Program (UNIFI)

  • A phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter clinical trial program (UNIFI) evaluated the efficacy and safety of STELARA therapy in adult patients with moderately to severely active UC. The program consisted of 2 studies: an 8-week intravenous (IV) induction study and a 44-week subcutaneous (SC) maintenance study.1-3
  • Patients enrolled had demonstrated an inadequate response to or failed to tolerate a biologic (ie, tumor necrosis factor [TNF] blocker and/or vedolizumab), corticosteroids, and/or 6-MP or AZA therapy.1
  • During the induction study (8 weeks in duration, N=961), patients were randomized 1:1:1 at week 0 (baseline) to receive a single IV induction dose of STELARA 130 mg or a dose approximating STELARA 6 mg/kg (~6 mg/kg): 260 mg IV (weight ≤55 kg), 390 mg IV (weight >55 kg but ≤85 kg), or 520 mg IV (weight >85 kg) or IV placebo.1,2
  • Patients who demonstrated a clinical response to STELARA IV induction treatment at week 8 (and those who did not have a response to IV placebo who then received an induction dose of STELARA ~6 mg/kg IV at week 8 and had a response at week 16) were eligible to enter the 44-week maintenance study (N=523) and were randomized 1:1:1 to receive STELARA 90 mg SC every 8 weeks (q8w), STELARA 90 mg SC every 12 weeks (q12w), or SC placebo.1,3
  • Stable doses of immunomodulators (ie, AZA, 6-MP, or MTX) and oral 5-ASAs were maintained from baseline of the induction study through week 44 of the maintenance study. Oral corticosteroids were maintained at a stable dose during the induction study and tapered when patients entered the maintenance study.1,4
  • At baseline of the induction study, the proportions of patients receiving the following concomitant UC medications were:2
    • Corticosteroids: 51.8%
    • Immunomodulators: 28.2%
    • Aminosalicylates: 68.7%
  • At baseline of the maintenance study, the proportions of patients receiving the following UC medications were:3
    • Corticosteroids: 51.1%
    • Immunomodulators: 25.9%
    • Aminosalicylates: 70.7%
  • Remission rates during induction and maintenance therapy for STELARA vs placebo based on baseline concomitant UC therapy status are noted in Table: Proportion of Patients in Clinical Remission at Week 8 by Baseline Concomitant UC Therapy Status and Table: Proportion of Patients in Clinical Remission at Week 44 by Baseline Concomitant UC Therapy Status.4

Proportion of Patients in Clinical Remission at Week 8 by Baseline Concomitant UC Therapy Status4
Proportion of Patients in Clinical Remission at Week 8
STELARA ~6 mg/kg IV
n (%)

Placebo IV
n (%)

Oral 5-ASA compounds
Receiving
238 (15.5)
207 (6.3)
Not receiving
84 (15.5)
112 (3.6)
Oral corticosteroids or 6-MP/AZA/MTX
Receiving
218 (16.5)
205 (6.8)
Not receiving
104 (13.5)
114 (2.6)
Abbreviations: 6-MP, 6-mercaptopurine; 5-ASA, 5-aminosalicylates; AZA, azathioprine; IV, intravenous; MTX, methotrexate; UC, ulcerative colitis.

Proportion of Patients in Clinical Remission at Week 44 by Baseline Concomitant UC Therapy Status4
Proportion of Patients in Clinical Remission at Week 44
STELARA 90 mg SC q8w
n (%)

Placebo SC
n (%)

Oral 5-ASA compounds
Receiving
112 (43.8)
124 (25.0)
Not receiving
64 (43.8)
51 (21.6)
Oral corticosteroids or 6-MP/AZA/MTX
Receiving
121 (44.6)
121 (25.6)
Not receiving
55 (41.8)
54 (20.4)
Abbreviations: 6-MP, 6-mercaptopurine; 5-ASA, 5-aminosalicylates; AZA, azathioprine; MTX, methotrexate; q8w, every 8 weeks; SC, subcutaneous; UC, ulcerative colitis.

Proportion of Patients in Symptomatic Remission and Corticosteroid-Sparing Effects at Weeks 44 and 2005
Analysis
STELARA 90 mg SC q12wa
n/N (%)

STELARA 90 mg SC q8wa
n/N (%)

Combineda
n/N (%)

Patients in symptomatic remissionb,c,d
Week 44
117/141 (83.0)
119/143 (83.2)
236/284 (83.1)
Week 200
96/141 (68.1)
96/143 (67.1)
192/284 (67.6)
Patients in symptomatic remission and not receiving corticosteroidsb,c,d,e
Week 44
111/141 (78.7)
115/143 (80.4)
226/284 (79.6)
Week 200
94/141 (66.7)
91/143 (63.6)
185/284 (65.1)
Patients in symptomatic remission and not receiving corticosteroids among patients receiving corticosteroids at maintenance baselineb,c,d,e,f
Week 44
49/68 (72.1)
56/71 (78.9)
105/139 (75.5)
Week 200
39/68 (57.4)
47/71 (66.2)
86/139 (61.9)
Patients who were able to eliminate the use of corticosteroidsc,f
Week 44
61/68 (89.7)
64/71 (90.1)
125/139 (89.9)
Week 200
53/68 (77.9)
57/71 (80.3)
110/139 (79.1)
Abbreviations: LTE, long-term extension; SC, subcutaneous; q8w, every 8 weeks; q12w, every 12 weeks.
aRandomized group at maintenance week 0 regardless of whether patients had a dose adjustment during the LTE.
bSymptomatic remission was defined as a stool frequency subscore of 0 or 1 and rectal bleeding subscore of 0.
cPatients who had both stool frequency and rectal bleeding subscores missing at a visit were considered not to be in symptomatic remission for that visit.
dPatients who had an ostomy or colectomy, or discontinued study agent due to lack of therapeutic effect or due to an adverse event of worsening of ulcerative colitis prior to the designated visit were considered not to be in symptomatic remission.
ePatients who had a missing value in corticosteroid use at the designated visit had their last available value carried forward to the designated visit.
fDenominator is the number of patients who were receiving concomitant corticosteroids at maintenance baseline.

Literature Search

A literature search of MEDLINE®, EMBASE®, BIOSIS Previews®, and DERWENT® (and/or other resources, including internal/external databases) was conducted on 5 June 2024.

Summarized in this response are relevant data with a focus on the use of STELARA in combination with immunomodulators, 5-ASAs, and corticosteroids from the phase 3 pivotal clinical trial program, including the open-label LTE in the treatment of UC.

 

References

1 Sands BE, Sandborn WJ, Panaccione R, et al. Ustekinumab as induction and maintenance therapy for ulcerative colitis. N Engl J Med. 2019;381(13):1201-1214.  
2 Sands BE, Sandborn WJ, Panaccione R, et al. Safety and efficacy of ustekinumab induction therapy in patients with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis: results from the phase 3 UNIFI study. Oral Presentation presented at: American College of Gastroenterology (ACG); October 5-10, 2018; Philadelphia, PA.  
3 Sands BE, Sandborn WJ, Panaccione R, et al. Efficacy and safety of ustekinumab as maintenance therapy in ulcerative colitis: week 44 results from UNIFI. Oral Presentation presented at: Digestive Disease Week (DDW); May 18-21, 2019; San Diego, CA.  
4 Sands BE, Sandborn WJ, Panaccione R, et al. Supplement to: Ustekinumab as induction and maintenance therapy for ulcerative colitis. N Engl J Med. 2019;381(13):1201-1214.  
5 Abreu M, Scherl E, Rowbotham D, et al. Corticosteroid-sparing effects of ustekinumab therapy for ulcerative colitis through 4 years: UNIFI long-term extension [abstract]. Am J Gastroenterol. 2022;117(10, Suppl. 2):S577. Abstract S807.  
6 Adedokun OJ, Xu Z, Marano C, et al. Ustekinumab pharmacokinetics and exposure response in a phase 3 randomized trial of patients with ulcerative colitis. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2020;18(10):2244-2255.e9.