Jan Wehkamp, MD: Promising New Guselkumab Data From DDW 2023

Data continues to be possible evaluating guselkumab (TREMFYA) in patients with ulcerative colitis.

In data presented during the 2023 Digestive Disease Week (DDW) in Chicago, investigators found guselkumab resulted in clinically meaningful improvements compared to placebo in patients with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis.

The team of investigators evaluated the interleukin-23 (IL-23), p19 subunit antagonist in an induction study.

The Quasar study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, multicenter study where investigators evaluated the efficacy and safety of the treatment.

In an interview with HCPLive®, Jan Wehkamp, MD, PhD, Vice President, Gastroenterology Disease Area Leader, Janssen Research & Development, talked about the positive data and what is next in the Quasar study.

“This data basically confirms our excitement, our commitment, and our trust and confidence in this compound,” Wehkamp said. “The unmet need in patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease remains. The data really confirms our trust in guselkumab.”

Wehkamp also said much like guselkumab, there is now a commitment to developing IL-23 treatments to for patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

“We have a large focus on IL-23 in our portfolio, it does address a critical unmet need of patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease,” he said.