M Dubinsky et al. Adv Ther. 2023; 40(9): 3896–3911. Open Access! Matching-Adjusted Indirect Comparison Between Risankizumab and Ustekinumab for Induction and Maintenance Treatment of Moderately to Severely Active Crohn’s Disease
Background/Methods: Risankizumab (RZB) and ustekinumab (UST), interleukin (IL)-23 and IL-12/23 inhibitors, respectively, are approved treatments for moderately to severely active Crohn’s disease (CD); direct comparison between the two is ongoing. The authors indirectly compared efficacy of RZB versus UST using data from phase 3 trials (three trials for each medication):
- RZB: NCT03104413; NCT03105128; NCT03105102
- UST: NCT01369329; NCT01369342; NCT01369355
Key findings:
Induction: Higher proportions of patients achieved clinical and endoscopic outcomes with RZB vs. UST, resulting in significantly (p ≤ 0.05) greater percent differences between groups for CDAI remission (15%) and endoscopic response (26%) and remission (9%)


Maintenance: rates of CDAI remission were similar (range − 0.3% to − 5.0%) for RZB vs. UST; however, endoscopic response and remission rates appeared more favorable (see Figure 2 below)


My take: Since this was not a direct randomization trial, these results are not definitive. However, in this indirect analysis, risankizumab appears to be superior to utekinumab in effectiveness of for Crohn’s disease.
Related blog posts:
- CCFA 2023 (Atlanta) Part 4
- CCFA 2023 (Atlanta) -Part 1
- How Much Ustekinumab (Stelara) Is Needed to Get a Good Response
- Risankizumab Receives FDA Approval for Crohn’s Disease (2022)
- Comparative Efficacy: Infliximab vs. Ustekinumab
- Which is a More Effective First-Line for Crohn’s Disease: Ustekinumab or anti-TNF agents?
- IBD Updates: Treat-to-Target Uptake, Long-Term Data on Ustekinumab Intensification, and Low Rates of C diff with Tofacitinib (& Clinical Pearl)
- CCFA 2023 (Atlanta) -Part 1
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