What Is Ulcerative Colitis
Ulcerative colitis is essentially a type of inflammatory bowel disease . The term inflammatory bowel disease generally refers to one of several chronic diseases that affect the gastrointestinal tract, the system of organs from the mouth to the anus that is responsible for ingesting food, extracting nutrients, and disposing of waste materials.
Ulcerative colitis is one of the more common IBDs, but microscopic colitis and Crohns disease are also fairly common examples in the category . They all share some common symptoms, but they each have specific characteristics that set them apart.
Ulcerative colitis is focused on and limited to the large intestinealso known as the colon. The key characteristics that set it apart from Crohns disease is the irritation, swelling, and sores on the inner lining of the colon. Crohns disease, by comparison, can affect other parts of the gastrointestinal tract such as the small intestine, and it can be limited to certain areas. Ulcerative colitis is a more broad inflammation of the inner lining of the entire colon.
One of the other main characteristics of ulcerative colitis is that it is chronic. When doctors refer to a condition as chronic, they are referring to something that is long-lasting or persistent. For many sufferers of ulcerative colitis , the symptoms tend to recur, and there is currently no known cure. The best hope is a long term remission.
The Zeposia 360 Supporttm Program Can Help You Every Step Of The Way
Have questions about ZEPOSIA or starting treatment? With ZEPOSIA 360 Support, a UC Nurse Navigator is there to make sure you have all the answers you need when it comes to ZEPOSIA. A dedicated UC Nurse Navigator can also help with insurance benefits, financial support, and so much more, including determining if you’re eligible for the ZEPOSIA $0 co-pay offer.**
**Depending on insurance coverage, patients may be eligible to receive a prescription benefit offer for out-of-pocket drug costs and pay as little as $0 per prescription. Maximum savings limit applies patient out-of-pocket expenses may vary. This program is not health insurance. Offer not valid for patients enrolled in Medicare, Medicaid, or other federal or state health care programs. Please for Program Terms, Conditions, and Eligibility Criteria.
Wondering if ZEPOSIA is right for you? Here are 3 things you can do to get started:
- Connect with your healthcare provider. Here are some questions to get the conversation started
- Visit ZEPOSIA.com to learn more about ZEPOSIA and the ZEPOSIA 360 Support program
- Connect with a UC Nurse Navigator by calling , Monday to Friday, 8 AM – 8 PM ET
Check In Check Up: Ulcerative Colitis
You dont have to settle for good enough ulcerative colitis care. Take this series of assessments to evaluate how well your treatment is working.
Prednisone, hydrocortisone, and methylprednisolone work by suppressing the entire immune system, rather than targeting inflammation.
Because of their high risk of side effects, these three drugs are typically reserved for moderate to severe ulcerative colitis. They also shouldnt be taken for very long.
Budesonide , on the other hand, is considered a first-line treatment for ulcerative colitis. Budesonide can be taken orally as a tablet or capsule, or rectally, as a foam or tablet or in an enema. Because of the way the body processes budesonide, the oral form causes fewer side effects than other corticosteroids, according to a paper published in August 2016 in Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy.
If you take corticosteroids orally or by injection, you may have significant side effects. Local steroids which are applied just to the area that needs treatment are generally the preferred option.
For severe flares of ulcerative colitis, hospitalization and high-dose intravenous corticosteroids are often required. Once remission is achieved, your dose of steroids will be tapered gradually and ultimately stopped. Steroids cant be stopped suddenly because they cause the body to reduce production of the natural steroid cortisol.
Steroids are ineffective as maintenance therapy to keep ulcerative colitis in remission.
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The Positive Side Of Biosimilars: More Ibd Treatment Choices
No one doubts that biosimilars are here to stay and that theyll take over a growing share of the biologic drug market in coming years.
Afzali hopes the influx of new drugs will prompt more research on their effects in people with IBD. We still need a lot more human and research testing, she says, to really evaluate the safety and efficacy of biosimilars for individual diseases.
Gerich is cautiously optimistic about the potential benefits of biosimilars. Hopefully, safety wont be a concern, he says, and it will be interesting to see what the financial outcomes are.
As Afzali notes, as long as choices arent taken away from doctors and patients, the availability of biosimilars can only be a good thing. I think having more treatment options in our medicine cabinet is always appealing, she says.
Additional reporting by Quinn Phillips
Tofacitinib: New Drug Approved For The Treatment Of Patients With Ulcerative Colitis
Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the colonic mucosa. There is no curative treatment. Instead, patients must take medication to control the inflammation over the course of their lives. There are some patients whose condition cannot be sufficiently controlled by the drugs currently available. For them, the new treatment with tofacitinib could be an alternative.
In 2017, the European Medicines Agency approved tofacitinib for the treatment of ulcerative colitis in adult patients who presented an intolerance, insufficient response or loss of response to conventional treatment or biological medical products , which are also commonly administered to treat ulcerative colitis.
Tofacitinibs mechanism of action is different to all other currently approved molecules: it inhibits a route of inflammation known as JAK . Inhibiting this route of action represents a new approach in the treatment of ulcerative colitis.
This treatment has many advantages in terms of its administration: it is administered orally, and this encourages patients to accept and follow the treatment. Furthermore, it has a fast onset of action, the effect of the drug only lasts for a few hours in the body, there is no risk of producing antibodies against it and it is used in monotherapy, in other words, there is no need to combine it with other drugs.
- Keep reading about:
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These Are Their Stories:
Suzy
I am completely blown away by my results! Evinature helped improved my quality of life. I am forever grateful and astonished at my results!
Sonya
A month in, I felt better. At two months, my blood tests were great, and at six months, I entered clinical and endoscopic remission. Now I rely solely on herbal treatment.
Almog
I was completely shocked that a plant had much stronger effects than very high dosages of steroids and very powerful medications. I started feeling much better!
Bosmat
The treatment exceeded all my expectations. I went back to living fully. And all this without any conventional medicine. Today, a year later, Im still in remission.
Shahar
It helped within 48 hours to subdue my flare up. Took about 2 more weeks to have complete remission. Treated with this for the last 7 years with great success.
Yael
On Sunday I started your natural treatment. On Monday morning, the bleeding stopped and everything looked normal. It acted like magic. Thank you!
Tomer
It allowed me to return to my normal activities. I gained weight, was more productive with my job, no longer depressed because my symptoms were down. I really recommend it, its really helpful.
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The change started from the first week. I recommend anyone with colitis to try it. I returned to function normally, and returned to the mother my children had known.
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Living With Ulcerative Colitis
With careful management, most people with UC are able to enjoy life, including work, travel, recreation, sex and having children.
To keep healthy, consider:
- eating a nutritious diet to help with healing and reduce fatigue
- keeping a food diary to check if there are any foods that make your symptoms worse during a flare-up
- asking your doctor about supplements if you think you may be malnourished
- exercising regularly to lift your mood and help relieve stress
- learning some relaxation techniques to help manage stress
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Routine Tests To Get Started
You can start treatment after taking 2 routine tests that can help make sure ZEPOSIA is right for you. If you have a history of certain eye conditions , you may also need an eye exam.
If you’ve had some of these tests within the last 6 months, let your healthcare provider knowthey may not need to be repeated.
Your UC Nurse Navigator or healthcare provider will help schedule these routine tests. For eligible patients, they may all be completed with an in-home visit:*
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An electrocardiogram a common test that uses small sensors to monitor your heart and makes sure it’s working normally before you start treatment.
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Blood workincluding complete blood count and liver function tests.
The ZEPOSIA Prescribing Information does not require ongoing lab monitoring unless indicated by your healthcare provider.
Once I was prescribed ZEPOSIA, a clinician from ZEPOSIA 360 Support was sent to my house to do all the necessary tests.*
Trey
Reduces Inflammation From The Inside
ZEPOSIA treats ulcerative colitis by reducing inflammation below the surface and improving the appearance of the colon at 1 year. ¶
¶30% of people taking ZEPOSIA achieved this result compared to 14% taking the placebo.
Early symptom relief and lasting remission are possible for my UC patients with this once-daily pill.
Douglas C. Wolf, MD
- High blood pressure
- Headache
These are not all the possible side effects of ZEPOSIA. Please see the full Prescribing Information and Medication Guide for information on all of the side effects reported by those taking ZEPOSIA.
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What Makes Cura Different From Other Forms Of Curcumin
Unlike any available Curcumin on the market, we specifically use a non-absorbable formulation that reduces systemic exposure and increases curcumin concentration where its most needed: in the gut!
The formulation is designed to directly target and soothe inflammation in the intestinal mucosa, where IBD inflammation occurs. Our studies show this treatment to be highly effective for treating mild-to-moderate Ulcerative colitis.
Fda Approves New Drug For Ulcerative Colitis
- Federal regulators have approved the new drug Zeposia for treating moderate to severe ulcerative colitis in adults.
- The medication is the latest in a line of drugs used to treat symptoms of this particular type of inflammatory bowel disease .
- Clinical trials are under way to test Zeposias effectiveness in treating Crohns disease.
If youre living with ulcerative colitis, you may have a new treatment option.
On May 27, Bristol Myers Squibb officials announced that the Food and Drug Administration approved Zeposia for treatment of moderate to severe active ulcerative colitis in adults.
Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease . Symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, and malnutrition can affect a persons quality of life.
Currently, the only potential cure for ulcerative colitis is surgery to remove the colon. But there are several types of medications to help manage the disease.
An estimated 3 million adults in the United States have been diagnosed with ulcerative colitis or Crohns disease, another type of IBD.
The FDA approved Zeposia in 2020 as a disease-modifying therapy for adults with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis. And phase 3 trials are under way to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Zeposia for treating Crohns disease.
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Combination Treatment Shows Promise For Ulcerative Colitis
Tremfaya is a combination of guselkumab and golimumab.
A combination of 2 drugsone for ulcerative colitis and one for plaque psoriasisis showing promise as a new treatment for moderate to severely active UC.
According to Janssen,1 results of a in a phase 2a clinical trial have shown that guselkumab , a combination of a monoclonal antibody against IL-23 used to treat plaque psoriasis and golimumab , a tumor necrosis factor-alpha antagonist, induced higher rates of clinical response, clinical remission, endoscopic improvement, and a composite histologic-endoscopic endpoint at 12 weeks than either treatment alone in patients with UC.
Although guselkumab, along with combination guselkumab and golimumab, are not currently approved for the treatment of adults with UC in the United States, the combined treatment shows incredible promise, Jan Wehkamp, MD, PhD, disease area leader in Gastroenterology for Janssen Research & Development told Drug Topics®.
It is significant because, while there are patients living with UC who have responded to their current therapies, there are still many other patients, such as refractory patients, who have failed or lost response to current advanced therapies. Combination therapy represents an exciting and important opportunity to leverage our pathway strategy and scientific expertise to bring forth new treatment options that can address the unmet needs of patients living with UC, Wehkamp added.
Reference
Steroids For Ulcerative Colitis Treatment
Steroid use is often one part of the treatment plan for ulcerative colitis.
Most healthcare providers will prescribe steroids to treat a flare-up of symptoms, then work to lower the dose as early as possible. This helps avoid negative side effects such as dependence, weight gain, and effects on blood sugar regulation.
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Ulcerative Colitis Treatment: Medication
The most common medication option is anti-inflammatory drugs. These can be used orally or topically to reduce inflammation of the colon and rectum.
Treating ulcerative colitis is a highly individualized process. At Johns Hopkins, we tailor your treatment to your specific needs and alter the medication as necessary. Your specific medication regimen will depend largely on the severity of your condition.
Other medications include:
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Immunosuppressive medications: These drugs slow your immune system to stop the immune response that is causing the colon and rectum to swell.
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Biologics: Like immunosuppressive medications, biologics target the immune system, but biologics act on specific immune system proteins that encourage inflammation.
The Founding Of Evinature
After the success of their trial, Salomon and Ben-Horin founded Evinature with an aim to promote safe, clinically validated natural remedies. The patient-focused platform provides integrative strategies, guided care from a collective of integrative and GI experts, research updates, and vital information to the community.
The Gold Standard in Evidence-based Natural Remedies
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Medication Options For Ulcerative Colitis
Medication is the first line of treatment for ulcerative colitis. Your doctors recommendation for which medication will work best for you is based on the severity of your disease, your overall health, and other individual factors.
There are six major classes of medication used to treat ulcerative colitis.
Bristol Myers Squibb Presents Interim Results From Long
The percentage of patients achieving clinical remission, clinical response, endoscopic improvement and corticosteroid-free remission was maintained through Week 142
Zeposia is the first and only oral sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor modulator approved to treat patients with ulcerative colitis
PRINCETON, N.J.â-Bristol Myers Squibb today announced interim results from the True North open-label extension study evaluating the long-term efficacy and safety profile of Zeposia in patients with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis . Findings show that the percentage of patients achieving clinical remission, clinical response, endoscopic improvement and corticosteroid-free remission was maintained through Week 142. No new safety signals emerged in the study. These data will be presented at the 17th Congress of the European Crohnâs and Colitis Organisation , taking place February 16-19, 2022.
Additional Bristol Myers Squibb-sponsored abstracts presented at the ECCO 2022 Congress can be accessed online here.
Visit this page on BMS.com for more information on Bristol Myers Squibbs scientific approach and resources on gastrointestinal immune-mediated diseases.
About True North
Bristol Myers Squibb thanks the patients and investigators involved in the True North clinical trial.
About Ulcerative Colitis
ZEPOSIA is indicated for the treatment of:
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
About Bristol Myers Squibb
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Sphingosine 1 Phosphate Receptor Modulator
Shingosine-1 phosphate signaling on central memory T-cells facilitate their exit from lymph nodes. Internalization of the S1P receptor prevents lymphocytes from responding to S1P and are retained in the lymph node, thus inhibiting their recruitment to inflamed tissue. Protective immunity is generally preserved as effector memory T-cells do not circulate through the lymph nodes. Ozanimod is an S1P modulator which downregulates S1P receptor subtypes 1 and 5. In a phase 2 RCT in patients with moderately to severely active UC, 1mg of ozanimod showed significantly greater clinical response and remission rates compared with placebo . In this study, endoscopic remission rates at week 8 were also significantly greater in the treatment groups. The adverse event profile was similar to placebo. The 4-year open label extension study showed durable efficacy with no new safety markers in UC patients. The phase 3 TRUE NORTH study in patients with moderately to severely active UC showed that ozanimod results in significant benefits in clinical, endoscopic, histologic and mucosal healing endpoints at week 52 compared with placebo. Currently, phase 3 trials in CD and UC patients are underway.
New Trial Data Positive For Mirikizumab As An Ulcerative Colitis Treatment
Eli Lilly and Company is expected to apply for a Biologics License Application in the first half of 2022.
New phase 3 data shows mirikizumab has resulted in clinical remission for patients with moderately-to-severely active ulcerative colitis.
Eli Lilly and Company announced the results at the 1 year mark from the LUCENT-2 trial, testing the efficacy and safety of the drug.
Each patient enrolled in the phase 3 maintenance study was previously enrolled in LUCENT-1, a 12-week induction study.
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