Mease et al. showed that guselkumab provided significantly higher rates of clinical improvement and significant inhibition of structural damage progression versus PBO, with no new safety signals, at Week 24 in biologic-naïve participants with active and erosive PsA. Mease et al. report primary efficacy and safety results for the double-blind PBO-controlled phase (Weeks 0-24) of the 3-year APEX study.

August 2025

Results from the Phase 3 GRAVTI study by Hart et al. showed that SC induction followed by SC maintenance treatment with guselkumab resulted in superior clinical and endoscopic improvements in participants with moderately to severely active CD through 48 weeks compared with placebo. Hart et al. evaluated efficacy and safety of guselkumab SC induction followed by SC maintenance in participants with moderately to severely active CD in a    treat-through design.

This study by Mortato et al. enhanced the limited safety data on guselkumab in patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis who have clinically relevant infectious and oncological comorbidities as well as concomitant heart disease. Authors assessed clinical outcomes and safety of guselkumab in a large cohort of patients with concomitant chronic infection, cancer or heart disease over a long follow-up period, addressing critical gaps in clinical evidence.

Baraliakos et al. compared real-world effectiveness of upadacitinib, TNF inhibitors, or IL-17 inhibitors following inadequate response to an initial TNF inhibitor in patients with axSpA. Upadacitinib was associated with greater reductions in pain and fewer affected joints compared with switching to a second TNF inhibitor or IL-17 inhibitor.

In this nationwide observational study, ixekuzumab was mainly used in patients with axSpA and PsA who had previously failed multiple b/tsDMARDs, including other IL-17 inhibitors. Although prior IL-17 treatment was associated with increased risk of withdrawal in both groups, the relatively high retention rates and improvements in all disease outcomes suggest ixekizumab as a viable option for challenging patients with multiple b/tsDMARD failures.

In patients with UC and refractory spondyloarthritis (SpA)—many of whom had previously failed multiple biologic therapies—TOF demonstrated effectiveness, particularly in those with peripheral SpA. Macaluso et al. assessed the effectiveness of TOF in UC-associated SpA. Articular responses were evaluated using rheumatologic scores.

Treatment with risankizumab provides durable improvement in the signs and symptoms of PsA across all the GRAPPA disease domains and related conditions. This post hoc analysis by Coates et al. aimed to assess the efficacy of long-term treatment with risankizumab across the updated GRAPPA domains and key related conditions of PsA.

Wang et al. validated the effectiveness and safety of UPA in this real-world study of Chinese PsA patients. UPA demonstrated comparable effectiveness to secukinumab (SEC) in psoriatic lesion improvement while showing comparable joint symptom relief compared with adalimumab (ADA), coupled with a favourable safety profile.

Most patients vaccinated with RZV while using UPA 15mg QD and background MTX achieved satisfactory humoral and cell-mediated immune responses to recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) at Weeks 4, 16 and 60. Winthrop et al. evaluated the immunogenicity of RZV through Week 60 in patients with RA who were receiving UPA 15mg QD and background MTX.

July 2025

A randomized Phase II study of efmarodocokin alfa, an interleukin-22 agonist, versus vedolizumab in patients with ulcerative colitis

Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology 2025;23:1387–1397 doi: 10.1016/j.cgh.2024.11.013

Danese et al. observed that efmarodocokin alfa did not demonstrate efficacy compared to the PBO, and this Phase II study ended early for futility; however, there was evidence of target engagement (skin AEs, regenerating islet derived protein 3-alpha).