FDA Approves Stelara (ustekinumab) for Treatment of Adults with Moderately to Severely Active Crohn's Disease
HORSHAM, Pa., Sept. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Janssen Biotech, Inc., announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Stelara (ustekinumab) for the treatment of moderately to severely active Crohn's disease in adults (18 years or older) who have failed or were intolerant to treatment with immunomodulators or corticosteroids but never failed treatment with a tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blocker, or who failed or were intolerant to treatment with one or more TNF blockers. Stelara is the first biologic therapy for Crohn's disease targeting interleukin (IL)-12 and IL-23 cytokines, which play a key role in inflammatory and immune responses.
"Crohn's disease is a complex condition to treat, and not all therapies work for every patient," said William J. Sandborn, MD, Chief, Division of Gastroenterology, and Professor of Medicine, UC San Diego School of Medicine, and study investigator. "The FDA approval of Stelara represents an important advancement in treating patients with Crohn's disease, as this therapy offers an alternate mechanism of action to induce and maintain clinical remission over time. Based on the results of the clinical development program, Stelara has the potential to benefit many adults living with Crohn's disease."
In clinical studies of patients who were either new to, experienced with, or failed biologic therapy (TNF blockers), between 34% (UNITI-1 study) and 56% (UNITI-2 study) of patients experienced relief from their Crohn's disease symptoms in just six weeks after receiving the one-time intravenous (IV) infusion of Stelara. Noticeable improvement was observed as early as three weeks. Additionally, the majority of those who responded to induction dosing and continued treatment with Stelara subcutaneous maintenance doses every 8 weeks were in remission at the end of 44 weeks (52 weeks from initiation of the induction dose).
Stelara is the only treatment for Crohn's disease that starts with a weight-based, one-time intravenous (IV) infusion induction dose (260 mg [55 kg or less], 390 mg [more than 55 kg to 85 kg], or 520 mg [more than 85 kg]) to help reduce symptoms, followed by 90 mg subcutaneous maintenance injections every 8 weeks to help keep the symptoms under control. The first dose of Stelara is an induction dose, administered intravenously, under the supervision of a healthcare professional. Subsequent maintenance doses are administered as a subcutaneous injection every 8 weeks, either by a healthcare professional or self-injected by the patient after proper training.
Janssen will work closely with payers, providers and pharmacy benefit managers to ensure Stelara is broadly accessible and affordable for patients, and that the cost for payers is competitive with currently available biologic therapies for Crohn's disease. Janssen offers a number of patient support programs including a co-pay card for patients with commercial insurance that reduces their out-of-pocket cost for Stelara to no more than $5 per dose (IV and/or subcutaneous injection), which is also offered for patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.
"The approval of Stelara for Crohn's disease underscores our commitment to provide innovative treatment options for people living with chronic inflammatory and immune-mediated diseases," said Andrew Greenspan, MD, vice president of medical affairs at Janssen Biotech, Inc. "We are confident Stelara will improve the lives of many people living with Crohn's disease and are committed to ensuring that it is accessible to patients who qualify for this new therapeutic option."
Clinical Trial Program
The clinical development program for Stelara for Crohn's disease included more than 1,300 patients across three pivotal Phase 3 studies, which served as the primary basis for FDA approval.
- The UNITI-1 induction study found that treatment with Stelara induced clinical response and clinical remission in patients who had previously failed or were intolerant to treatment with one or more TNF blockers.
- The UNITI-2 induction study demonstrated treatment with Stelara induced clinical response and clinical remission in patients who had previously failed or were intolerant to conventional therapy (immunomodulators or corticosteroids), the majority of whom were naïve to treatment with a TNF blocker.
- The IM-UNITI maintenance study, which evaluated patients who achieved clinical response eight weeks after a single intravenous infusion of Stelara in the UNITI-1 and UNITI-2 Phase 3 induction studies, demonstrated that more than half of patients receiving Stelara subcutaneous injections every eight weeks were in clinical remission after nearly one year of treatment.
About Crohn's Disease
Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory condition of the gastrointestinal tract that affects approximately 700,000 Americans. Symptoms of Crohn's disease can vary but often include abdominal pain and tenderness, frequent diarrhea, rectal bleeding, weight loss, and fever. Hospitalization is at times required for severe disease, to treat certain complications, and for surgery. There is currently no cure for Crohn's disease.1
About Stelara (ustekinumab)
Stelara is a prescription medicine used to treat moderately to severely active Crohn's disease in adult patients (18 years and older) who have already taken other medicine that did not work well enough or they could not tolerate it.
About the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies
At the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, we are working to create a world without disease. Transforming lives by finding new and better ways to prevent, intercept, treat and cure disease inspires us. We bring together the best minds and pursue the most promising science. We are Janssen. We collaborate with the world for the health of everyone in it. Learn more at www.janssen.com.
SOURCE Janssen Biotech, Inc.
Posted: September 2016
Related articles
- Stelara (ustekinumab) Approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to Treat Pediatric Patients with Active Psoriatic Arthritis - August 1, 2022
- FDA Approves Stelara (ustekinumab) for Treatment of Pediatric Patients with Moderate to Severe Plaque Psoriasis - July 30, 2020
- Janssen Announces FDA Approval of Stelara (ustekinumab) for the Treatment of Adults with Moderately to Severely Active Ulcerative Colitis - October 21, 2019
- Janssen Announces FDA Approval of Stelara (ustekinumab) for the Treatment of Adolescents with Moderate to Severe Plaque Psoriasis - October 13, 2017
- Stelara (ustekinumab) Receives FDA Approval to Treat Active Psoriatic Arthritis - September 23, 2013
- FDA Approves Stelara (ustekinumab) to Treat Psoriasis - September 25, 2009
- FDA Extends Review Timeline for Stelara (ustekinumab) Biologic License Application by Three Months - May 27, 2009
- FDA Issues Complete Response Letter to Centocor for Ustekinumab Biologic License Application - December 19, 2008
- FDA Extends Review Timeline for Ustekinumab Biologic License Application Three Months - August 8, 2008
- FDA Advisory Committee Unanimously Recommends Approval of Ustekinumab for Treatment of Moderate to Severe Plaque Psoriasis - June 18, 2008
- Centocor Announces Ustekinumab Biologic License Application Accepted for Filing by FDA - February 4, 2008
- Medarex to Receive Milestone Payment for Submission of Regulatory Applications Requesting Approval of Ustekinumab (CNTO 1275) for Treatment of Psoriasis - December 7, 2007
- Centocor and Janssen-Cilag Submit Applications Requesting Approval of Ustekinumab in the U.S. and Europe for Treatment of Moderate to Severe Plaque Psoriasis - December 4, 2007
Stelara (ustekinumab) FDA Approval History
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.
