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Practice Guideline
. 2022 Apr;54(4):440-451.
doi: 10.1016/j.dld.2022.01.127. Epub 2022 Feb 17.

Use of biologics and small molecule drugs for the management of moderate to severe ulcerative colitis: IG-IBD clinical guidelines based on the GRADE methodology

Collaborators, Affiliations
Free article
Practice Guideline

Use of biologics and small molecule drugs for the management of moderate to severe ulcerative colitis: IG-IBD clinical guidelines based on the GRADE methodology

Fabio Salvatore Macaluso et al. Dig Liver Dis. 2022 Apr.
Free article

Abstract

The management of moderate to severe ulcerative colitis has undergone significant changes over the past 15 years due to the regulatory approval of several new drugs. In particular, following the approval of the first biological, i.e. infliximab, a number of further biological drugs, such as adalimumab, golimumab, vedolizumab and ustekinumab, and small molecules, such as tofacitinib, have been approved, thus enriching the therapeutic armamentarium for ulcerative colitis. Choice of therapy must take into consideration not only the need to induce and maintain disease remission according to the patient's profile, but also age, co-morbidities, and prior treatments. To guide these decisions, the Italian Group for the Study of Inflammatory Bowel Disease has developed clinical guidelines that supersede its earlier document from 2011. These new guidelines were developed following the GRADE methodology for rating the quality of the evidence and for determining the strength of the recommendations. This article presents the methodology and results, in the form of 20 statements with commentary on the use of the five biologics and tofacitinib for managing the intestinal manifestations of active ulcerative colitis and for maintaining remission. A separate technical review reports the analyses of the evidence upon which the present recommendations are based.

Keywords: Biologics; Clinical guidelines; GRADE; IG-IBD; Small molecule drugs.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest FSM served as an advisory board member and/or received lecture grants from AbbVie, Biogen, Galapagos, Janssen, MSD, Pfizer, Samsung Bioepis, and Takeda Pharmaceuticals. AO served as an advisory board member for AbbVie, Galapagos, MSD, Janssen, Pfizer, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, and received lecture grants from AbbVie, MSD, Sofar, Chiesi, Janssen, Pfizer, and Takeda Pharmaceuticals. CP has received consultancy fees and/or educational grants from Abbvie, MSD, Takeda, Pfizer, Janssen-Cilag, Sandoz, Chiesi, Sofar, Ferring and Zambon. SF: advisory board for Janssen Cilag; consultancy fees and/or educational grants from Takeda, SoFar, Abbvie, Zambon. DP received consultancy fees from Takeda, Jannsen-Cilag, Pfizer, and MSD. GF served as a consultant and advisory board member for Takeda, Abbvie, Janssen, Pfizer, Celltrion, Sandoz, AlfaSigma, Samsung Bioepis, Amgen, Roche, Ferring, Mylan, Galapagos. MCF received consultancy fees from Roche, Takeda, Jannsen-Cilag, Pfizer, Sandoz, Biogen, Galapagos and research economic support from Abbvie. FC served as consultant to Abbvie, MSD, Takeda, Janssen, Roche, Celgene, Bristol-Meyers Squipp, Galapagos, Gllead, Pfizer, Mundipharma, Galapagos, Biogen, received lecture fees from Abbvie, Ferring, Takeda, Allergy Therapeutics, Janssen, Pfizer, Biogen, and unrestricted research grants from Giuliani, Sofar, MSD, Takeda, Abbvie. MD served as advisor or received consultancy fees from: Roche, Takeda, Janssen, Pfizer, Abbvie, Bioclinica. AA: consulting and/or advisory board fees from AbbVie, Allergan, Amgen, Arena, Biogen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celltrion, Eli-Lilly, Ferring, Galapagos, Gilead, Janssen, MSD, Mylan, Pfizer, Roche, Samsung Bioepis, Sandoz, Takeda; lecture and/or speaker bureau fees from AbbVie, Amgen, Biogen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celltrion, Eli-Lilly, Ferring, Galapagos, Gilead, Janssen, MSD, Mitsubishi Tanabe, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Samsung Bioepis, Sandoz, Takeda, Tigenix; research grants: MSD, Pfizer, Takeda. SB, CP, and DP have no conflicts of interest to declare.

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