High persistence rate at one year- follow-up of subcutaneous vedolizumab at standard dose after switching endovenous vedolizumab, even in those previously intensified: results of a Spanish multicentre observational study.

INTRODUCTION

Subcutaneous (sc) vedolizumab is an alternative to intravenous (iv) vedolizumab for the treatment of patients with mild-to-moderate flares of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

AIMS: To analyse the persistence rate of the sc vedolizumab and its pharmacokinetics in patients previously treated with iv vedolizumab; describing clinical and biochemical remission rates at one year, and comparing previous intravenous intensification regimens.

METHODS

Multicenter, descriptive, observational, and retrospective study of a cohort of 54 patients with IBD treated with iv vedolizumab for more than six months, who were switched to sc vedolizumab under a standard regimen, 32 patients (59%) with a diagnosis of ulcerative colitis (UC) and 22 patients (41%) with Crohn's disease (CD)

RESULTS

After one year of follow-up, 93% of the patients continued with vedolizumab, 100% were in clinical remission, and 86% achieved biochemical remission (calprotectin <150). A progressive increase in vedolizumab levels was observed after switching to sc vedolizumab, with statistical significance (p<0.05). 14 patients (25.9%) were on an intensified regimen before switching to sc vedolizumab; however, all patients remained on subcutaneous vedolizumab at a dose of 108 mg every two weeks without the need for intensification.

CONCLUSION

After switching to sc vedolizumab in patients with endovenous vedolizumab treatment, high persistence rate at one year of follow-up is achieved, with a greater tendency to biochemical remission, which is more pronounced in previously intensified patients without the need for subcutaneous vedolizumab intensification.