Interleukin-23 Inhibitor Passes Phase II in Crohn Disease

Polymorphisms in the interleukin-23 receptor gene affect Crohn disease risk, and inhibition of interleukin-12 and interleukin-23 by ustekinumab is beneficial in Crohn disease. Risankizumab is an investigational selective interleukin-23 inhibitor.

In an industry-funded phase II trial, 121 patients with moderate-to-severe Crohn disease, of whom 93% had been treated with one or more TNF blockers, were randomized to receive 600 mg of risankizumab, 200 mg of risankizumab, or placebo at weeks 0, 4, and 8. The primary outcome was clinical remission (Crohn disease activity index [CDAI] <150) at week 12.

Overall, both doses of risankizumab were effective, the larger dose was somewhat more effective, and no safety signal was identified. Clinical remiss…