U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Stelara (ustekinumab) for the treatment of moderately to severely active Crohn’s disease in adults (18 years or older) who have failed or were intolerant to treatment with immunomodulators or corticosteroids but never failed treatment with a tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blocker, or who failed or were intolerant to treatment with one or more TNF blockers. Stelara is the first biologic therapy for Crohn’s disease targeting interleukin (IL)-12 and IL-23 cytokines, which play a key role in inflammatory and immune responses.
“Crohn’s disease is a complex condition to treat, and not all therapies work for every patient,” said William J. Sandborn, MD, Chief, Division of Gastroenterology, and Professor of Medicine, UC San Diego School of Medicine, and study investigator. “The FDA approval of Stelara represents an important advancement in treating patients with Crohn’s disease, as this therapy offers an alternate mechanism of action to induce and maintain clinical remission over time. Based on the results of the clinical development program, Stelara has the potential to benefit many adults living with Crohn’s disease.”
In clinical studies of patients who were either new to, experienced with, or failed biologic therapy (TNF blockers), between 34% (UNITI-1 study) and 56% (UNITI-2 study) of patients experienced relief from their Crohn’s disease symptoms in just six weeks after receiving the one-time intravenous (IV) infusion of Stelara. Noticeable improvement was observed as early as three weeks. Additionally, the majority of those who responded to induction dosing and continued treatment with Stelara subcutaneous maintenance doses every 8 weeks were in remission at the end of 44 weeks (52 weeks from initiation of the induction dose).
Stelara is the only treatment for Crohn’s disease that starts with a weight-based, one-time intravenous (IV) infusion induction dose (260 mg [55 kg or less], 390 mg [more than 55 kg to 85 kg], or 520 mg [more than 85 kg]) to help reduce symptoms, followed by 90 mg subcutaneous maintenance injections every 8 weeks to help keep the symptoms under control. The first dose of Stelara is an induction dose, administered intravenously, under the supervision of a healthcare professional. Subsequent maintenance doses are administered as a subcutaneous injection every 8 weeks, either by a healthcare professional or self-injected by the patient after proper training.
About Crohn’s Disease
Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory condition of the gastrointestinal tract that affects approximately 700,000 Americans. Symptoms of Crohn’s disease can vary but often include abdominal pain and tenderness, frequent diarrhea, rectal bleeding, weight loss, and fever. Hospitalization is at times required for severe disease, to treat certain complications, and for surgery. There is currently no cure for Crohn’s disease.1
About Stelara (ustekinumab)
Stelara is a prescription medicine used to treat moderately to severely active Crohn’s disease in adult patients (18 years and older) who have already taken other medicine that did not work well enough or they could not tolerate it.
SOURCE Janssen Biotech, Inc.