Efficacy and Safety of Vedolizumab Subcutaneously (SC) as Maintenance Therapy in Ulcerative Colitis

The purpose of this study is to assess the effect of vedolizumab subcutaneous (vedolizumab SC) maintenance treatment on clinical remission at Week 52 in participants with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis (UC) who achieved clinical response following administration of vedolizumab intravenous (vedolizumab IV) induction therapy.

The drug being tested in this study is called vedolizumab subcutaneous (vedolizumab SC). Vedolizumab SC is being tested to treat people who have moderate to severely active ulcerative colitis. This study will look at clinical remission as well as mucosal healing, durable clinical response, durable clinical remission, and corticosteroid free remission in participants with UC who receive vedolizumab SC maintenance therapy after having achieved a clinical response to vedolizumab IV induction therapy.

The study enrolled 383 patients. All participants will enter into a 6-week Induction Phase where they will be administered open-label vedolizumab IV 300 mg via intravenous infusion (IV) at Week 0 (Day 1) and Week 2 (Day 15), and will then be assessed for a clinical response at Week 6. Participants who achieve a clinical response at Week 6 will be randomly assigned to one of the three treatment groups:

Vedolizumab SC 108 mg Q2W and Placebo IV Q8W Vedolizumab IV 300 mg Q8W and Placebo SC Q2W Placebo SC Q2W and Placebo IV Q8W

Participants who do not achieve a clinical response at Week 6 will not be randomized in to the Maintenance Period, and will receive a third infusion of vedolizumab IV 300 mg at Week 6.

This multi-center trial will be conducted worldwide. The overall time to participate in this study is up to 71 weeks (up to 4 weeks of screening, 52 weeks of treatment and 18 weeks of safety follow-up). Participants will make multiple visits to the clinic, plus a final visit 18 weeks after last dose of study drug for a follow-up assessment. Participants will also participate in a long-term safety follow-up, by phone, at 6 months after the last dose of study drug.

After the Week 52 assessments, participants meeting protocol-defined criteria were eligible to enroll in Study MLN0002SC-3030 (NCT02620046; Long-term Safety) to receive open-label vedolizumab treatment. Participants who withdrew early (prior to Week 52) due to sustained nonresponse, disease worsening, or the need for rescue medications may also have been eligible for Study MLN0002SC-3030. Participants who did not enroll into Study MLN0002SC-3030 were to complete a final on-study safety assessment at Week 68 (or final safety visit 18 weeks after the last dose) in the Maintenance Phase of Study MLN0002SC-3027.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Diagnosis of ulcerative colitis (UC) established at least 6 months prior to screening, by clinical and endoscopic evidence and corroborated by a histopathology report.
2. Moderately to severely active UC as determined by a complete Mayo score of 6-12 (with an endoscopic subscore ≥2)
3. Evidence of UC extending proximal to the rectum (≥15 cm of involved colon).
4. Inadequate response with, loss of response to, or intolerance to corticosteroids, immunomodulators, or Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α) antagonists

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Evidence of abdominal abscess or toxic megacolon at the initial Screening Visit.
2. Extensive colonic resection, subtotal or total colectomy.
3. Ileostomy, colostomy, or known fixed symptomatic stenosis of the intestine.
4. Prior exposure to investigational or approved non-biologic therapies (eg, cyclosporine, tacrolimus, thalidomide, methotrexate or tofacitinib) for the treatment of underlying disease within 30 days or 5 half-lives of screening (whichever is longer).
5. Prior exposure to any investigational or approved biologic or biosimilar agent within 60 days or 5 half-lives of screening (whichever is longer).
6. Prior exposure to vedolizumab
7. Surgical intervention for UC required at any time during the study.
8. History or evidence of adenomatous colonic polyps that have not been removed or has a history or evidence of colonic mucosal dysplasia.
9. Suspected or confirmed diagnosis of Crohn's entercolitis, indeterminate colitis, ischaemic colitis, radiation colitis, diverticular disease associated with colitis, or microscopic colitis.
10. Active infections
11. Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection or chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, HIV or tuberculosis (active or latent), identified congenital or acquired immunodeficiency. HBV immune participants (ie, being hepatitis B surface antigen \[HBsAg\] negative and hepatitis B antibody positive) may, however, be included.
12. History of any major neurological disorders, including stroke, multiple sclerosis, brain tumor, demyelinating or neurodegenerative disease.