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A new study into the effect of a biological compound on endoscopy in Crohn’s disease has found that it significantly improved endoscopic lesions and induced endoscopic response in the majority of patients.
Biopharmaceutical firm UCB carried out a 54-week phase III trial looking at the use of Cimzia (certolizumab pegol) in patients with moderate to severe Crohn’s disease.
It found that endoscopic lesions were significantly improved, and endoscopic response induced within 10 weeks of treatment in more than 60% of cases.
Improvements in secondary endpoints, including endoscopic remission and response rates, histological CD score, clinical remission rate and decrease in C-reactive protein level, were also achieved.
Lead study investigator Jean-Frederic Colombel, of the Regional Hospital Centre of the University of Lille in France, said: “Even though the study was uncontrolled, it is interesting to see evidence of endoscopic improvement so early in the course of treatment.
“Long-term follow up of these patients will allow us to determine the clinical impact of endoscopic improvement on modifying the course of the disease.”
Dr Colombel added: “These data underscore the importance of Cimzia as a comprehensive treatment option for people fighting Crohn’s disease.”
Cimzia was approved by the FDA in April. The approval was based on safety and efficacy data from clinical trials in more than 1,500 patients with Crohn’s disease.
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