Two-year effectiveness and safety of golimumab in ulcerative colitis: An IG-IBD study

Few data exist regarding the long-term effectiveness of golimumab in ulcerative colitis. No data have been reported on real-world continuous clinical response.

This study aimed to describe the long-term outcomes in a large cohort of patients on golimumab who had ulcerative colitis.

Consecutive patients with active ulcerative colitis, started on golimumab, were enrolled and prospectively followed up. The primary end point was to evaluate the long-term persistence on golimumab therapy.

A total of 173 patients with ulcerative colitis were studied. Of these, 79.2% were steroid dependent, and 46.3% were naïve to anti-tumour necrosis factor alpha agents. The median duration of golimumab therapy was 52 weeks (range: 4-142 weeks). The cumulative probability of maintaining golimumab treatment was 47.3% and 22.5% at 54 and 108 weeks, respectively. Biological-naïve status (odds ratio [OR] = 3.02, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.44-6.29; p = 0.003) and being able to discontinue steroids at Week 8 (OR = 3.32, 95% CI: 1.34-8.30; p = 0.010) and Week 14 (OR = 2.94, 95% CI: 1.08-8.02; p = 0.036) were associated with longer persistence on therapy. At Week 54, 65/124 (52.4%) postinduction responders were in continuous clinical response. A continuous clinical response was associated with a lower likelihood of golimumab discontinuation throughout the subsequent year of therapy (p < 0.01). Overall, 40 (23.1%) patients were in clinical remission at the last follow-up visit. Twenty-six adverse events were recorded, leading to golimumab withdrawal in 9.2% of patients.

Biological-naïve status and not requiring steroids at Weeks 8 and 14 seem to be associated with a longer persistence on golimumab therapy in ulcerative colitis.