Comparative Efficacy of Advanced Therapies for Management of Moderate-to-Severe Ulcerative Colitis: 2024 American Gastroenterological Association Evidence Synthesis

Abstract

Background & aims: We performed an updated systematic review and network meta-analysis to inform the 2024 American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Clinical Guidelines on the management of moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis (UC).

Methods: We searched multiple electronic databases through November 21, 2023, to identify randomized controlled trials in adults with moderate-to-severe UC, comparing different advanced therapies (tumor necrosis factor antagonists, vedolizumab, sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor modulators, interleukin 12/23 or selective interleukin 23 antagonists, and Janus kinase [JAK] inhibitors) against placebo or another active comparator. Our primary outcomes were induction and maintenance of clinical remission, and our secondary outcome was endoscopic improvement. We performed a network meta-analysis using a frequentist approach and applied Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) to appraise certainty of evidence.

Results: After excluding JAK inhibitors as potential first-line treatment (in accordance with the United States Food and Drug Administration), low-certainty evidence supports clinically important benefit with infliximab, ozanimod, risankizumab, and guselkumab over adalimumab and mirikizumab for achieving remission with induction therapy in biologically naïve patients with moderate-to-severe UC, with risankizumab and ozanimod being ranked the highest for induction of clinical remission. With the inclusion of JAK inhibitors as first-line therapy, upadacitinib was more efficacious compared with all other medications except ozanimod and risankizumab, with low- to moderate-certainty evidence. In patients with prior biologic exposure, upadacitinib, tofacitinib, and ustekinumab were ranked highest for achieving remission.

Conclusions: Using Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation to appraise quality of evidence, this updated network meta-analysis will be used to inform comparative efficacy and positioning of advanced therapies for the treatment of biologic-naïve and biologic-exposed patients with moderate-to-severe UC.

Keywords: Biologics; Comparative Effectiveness; Guidelines; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases; Positioning.