Phase 3 Study Finds Zeposia Effective in UC Remission

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As more and more drugs come to market for autoimmune disorders the market gets fiercer and demanding. The current sweet spot? Taking autoimmune therapies from intravenous to pill form. This is seen across a wide range of autoimmune diseases from Multiple Sclerosis (MS) to IBD and everything in between.  

Zeposia was FDA approved for treatment of Multiple Sclerosis back in June of 2020. Since then, Bristol Myers Squibb has tried expanding Zeposia’s reach to treat Ulcerative Colitis. Their hopes of using it for treating IBD may come true, as phase 3 study has found Zeposia helpful in treating UC. In fact, 18.4% of UC patients achieved remission at the 10-week marker. Comparatively 6.8% achieved remission with placebo. The numbers get even better at the 52-week mark, as 37% of patients-maintained remission, and 18.5% for placebo. Not to mention, that Zeposia also did well in the studies secondary phase with 47% in remission at 10 weeks and 60% in remission by week 52. Placebo for this study was 25.9% and 41% respectively.   

Although this was taken as an overall win, Zeposia was shown to be less effective in patients previously treated with an anti-TNF inhibitor like Humira. It also had clinical remission rates that were not significantly better than the placebo rates. Zeposia also scored lower for remission rates and clinical response at one year. 

Zeposia is a sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor modulator (S1P). This drug class works by inhibiting the flow of lymphocytes from the lymph nodes and into the bloodstream. This is drastically different from the common anti-TNF like Humira that is treating IBD now. If it receives FDA approval for UC it will be the first S1P approved for IBD. Depending on the effectiveness found in the next round of studies, Zeposia may receive approval for trials in treating Crohn’s. 

Keep your eye out for more news in the coming year for this drug. If Zeposia is approved for IBD by the FDA it could open a whole new approach to treatment. Science is always advancing, and new medicines and cures are found. Maybe your current treatment isn’t working, but hold on to hope because you never know what medical advances will bring. 

Want to check out the data for yourself? Take a look HERE!

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