Sanofi and Teva Pharmaceuticals, a US affiliate of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., announced that the RELIEVE UCCD phase 2b study met its primary endpoints in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD). RELIEVE UCCD assessed duvakitug, a human IgG1-λ2 monoclonal antibody targeting TL1A, for the treatment of moderate-to-severe inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

In the RELIEVE UCCD study, 36.2% (low dose) and 47.8% (high dose) of patients with UC treated with duvakitug achieved clinical remission* compared to 20.45% on placebo, placebo-adjusted rates were 15.7% (low dose) and 27.4% (high dose), at week 14 (p=0.050 and 0.003, respectively).* In patients with CD, 26.1% (low dose) and 47.8% (high dose) treated with duvakitug achieved endoscopic response* compared to 13.0% on placebo, placebo-adjusted rates were 13.0% (low dose) and 34.8% (high dose), at week 14 (p= 0.058 and <0.001, respectively).* Overall, the treatment effect was consistent across subgroups. This is the first and only randomized, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the impact of an anti-TL1A monoclonal antibody in CD. Detailed results are expected to be presented at a scientific forum in 2025.

Duvakitug was generally well tolerated in both UC and CD with no safety signal identified. Overall rates of treatment emergent adverse events (AE) were similar between duvakitug and placebo across both UC and CD (50% vs 50%). All AEs reported across both UC and CD were less than 5%.

Houman Ashrafian, MD, PhD
Executive Vice President, Head of Research & Development at Sanofi
“These unprecedented results show that duvakitug could represent the next frontier in treating ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. If the magnitude of effect persists in the phase 3 program, we believe we will have a differentiated medicine for IBD patients who are in urgent need of new options,” said Houman Ashrafian, MD, PhD, Head of R&D at Sanofi. “The duvakitug program and this partnership underscore Sanofi’s strategy of following the science to identify and rapidly advance breakthrough medicines for patients.”

Eric Hughes, MD, PhD
Head of Global Research & Development and Chief Medical Officer at Teva
“The results from the RELIEVE UCCD study have exceeded our expectations, and I am deeply moved by the potential of duvakitug to help treat and meaningfully improve the quality of life of people living with IBD,” said Eric Hughes, MD, PhD, Head of Global R&D and Chief Medical Officer at Teva. “These positive results reinforce Teva's ability to develop and accelerate access to innovative medicines. We are excited to collaborate on the next phase of development with our partner, Sanofi, and we would like to thank the investigators and patients who participated in this study.”