Upadacitinib Is Safe and Effective for Crohn's Disease: Real-World Data from a Tertiary Center

Dig Dis Sci. 2023 Feb;68(2):385-388. doi: 10.1007/s10620-022-07582-w. Epub 2022 Jun 13.

Abstract

Upadacitinib is a selective JAK-1 inhibitor approved for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and more recently, ulcerative colitis. Phase II trials demonstrated that upadacitinib induces endoscopic remission in patients with moderate-to-severe Crohn's disease. However, real-world data are lacking. We present a short report on our experience with off-label upadacitinib in patients with CD at a tertiary center. In this cohort of medically refractory patients with CD, treatment with upadacitinib resulted in subjective and objective responses in 25 and 42% of patients, respectively. Even at doses that are considered lower than currently being studied for CD, upadacitinib was associated with a favorable benefit-to-risk profile.

Keywords: Crohn’s disease; Inflammatory bowel disease; Upadacitinib.

MeSH terms

  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid* / drug therapy
  • Colitis, Ulcerative* / drug therapy
  • Crohn Disease* / drug therapy
  • Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring / therapeutic use
  • Humans

Substances

  • upadacitinib
  • Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring