DOP058 Efficacy and Safety of Vedolizumab Combined with Upadacitinib in Moderate-to-Severe Ulcerative Colitis: A Multicenter, Prospective, Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Wu H , Su T , Wu L , Zhi M , Yao J 
Published: January 2025

Background

The optimal treatment strategy for moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis (UC) remains challenging. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of combination therapy with vedolizumab (VDZ) plus upadacitinib (UPA) compared to VDZ monotherapy.

Methods

In this multicenter, prospective, randomized controlled trial, patients with moderate-to-severe UC were randomized to receive either VDZ (300mg at weeks 0, 2, 6, then every 8 weeks through week 54) plus UPA (45mg daily for 8 weeks) or VDZ monotherapy. Primary endpoints included clinical response, sustained clinical response, clinical remission, sustained clinical remission, and CRP normalization at weeks 8 and 54. Secondary endpoints included endoscopic response, sustained endoscopic response, endoscopic remission, sustained endoscopic remission and quality of life changes.

Results

61 patients were enrolled (combination therapy: n=26; monotherapy: n=35). At week 8, the combination therapy group showed significantly higher clinical response rates compared to the monotherapy group (63.4% vs 34.3%, P=0.037). Clinical remission rates were 30.8% vs 11.4% (P=0.152). Endoscopic response rates were significantly higher in the combination group (61.5% vs 40.0%, P=0.042). Endoscopic remission (46.2% vs 25.7%, P=0.209), and histological remission (34.6% vs 14.3%, P=0.157) showed numerical improvements. Laboratory inflammatory markers and nutritional parameters improved in both groups without significant between-group differences.

Conclusion

Conclusions: VDZ plus UPA combination therapy showed better early clinical and endoscopic outcomes compared to VDZ monotherapy in moderate-to-severe UC. Both treatments improved inflammatory and nutritional markers. This dual-targeted approach may represent a promising treatment strategy for UC patients, though larger studies with longer follow-up are needed to confirm these findings.

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