Zeposia, or ozanimod, was found effective in UC patients compared to placebo after only one week of full dose ingestion. This is a new drug on the autoimmune scene as it was approved for treatment of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in June of 2020, but has proven itself a contender in treating UC after Bristol Myer Squibb’s TRUE NORTH study. Researchers noticed patient numbers trending for the better even after one week, and saw this trend continue into and after the 10-week mark of the study.Â
The effectiveness in treatment was measured by biomarkers of rectal bleeding and stool frequency. It was noted that 50% of patients on zeposia had a meaningful decrease in rectal bleeding and a 42% decrease in stool frequency. After just two weeks the Zeposia group dropped a total median score of 0.37, and 18.6% achieved full endoscopic remission at week 10. An additional 35% saw a decrease in both biomarkers. These results are more than promising in getting this drug approved by the FDA for UC, and was approved for UC use on May 30th. This will be the first S1P of its class for IBD treatment.Â
Zeposia is considered to be a sphingosine-1-phosphate inhibitor, or S1P. This drug class works by acting as a mechanism to prevent specific T-cells from exiting the lymphatic system. This has been shown helpful in MS, but many are eager to see its effectiveness on UC, since before now no medication had been approved for both. Fecal calprotectin (FCP) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were taken into consideration in the TRUE NORTH study, and researchers saw ‘substantial decline’ in the Zeposia group at week 10. Whereas there were no changes recorded in the placebo’s groups FCP and CRP.Â
There are some other important details to cover about this study. Of the almost 650 patients, the average age was 42 and most had been living with UC for seven years or more. These patients were also randomized 2:1 Zeposia to placebo, and began with a 7-day dose up titration, so that the full dosing was not reached until week 1. After the presentation of this study’s favorable findings at Digestive Disease Week (DDW), Bristol Myers Squibb will start testing Crohn’s patients as well. In the coming year we will see the results on Zeposia and Crohn’s as well as long term effectiveness with UC. With the FDA push to approve Zeposia for UC, we will be more than likely seeing it prescribed for UC patients by the end of summer.Â
Want to check out the study for yourself? Click HERE!Â
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