What the trial was testing
The TRUE NORTH enrolled 1,012 patients with ulcerative colitis. The study was sponsored by Celgene and tracked outcomes across the full group of patients who matched the trial's eligibility profile.
It was a large trial designed to confirm whether the treatment works well enough for wider use. Trials at this stage are designed to produce evidence regulators and physicians can act on — not just observations to follow up later.
What the results showed
Nearly 4 in 10 patients taking ozanimod were in remission after one year of treatment.
The New England journal of medicine · 2021 · NCT02435992
These findings — that more than one in three patients had no symptoms after a year of treatment — were published in the The New England journal of medicine and represent the headline result of the study.
Researchers tracked outcomes across 1,012 patients enrolled in the trial. The result was consistent enough across the group that the team felt confident reporting it.
What this means for patients
For patients with ulcerative colitis, this result changes the calculus on what to ask their care team about. Whether it changes day-to-day care depends on factors like disease subtype, prior treatments, and where the patient is in their care journey.
What you can do now
Ozanimod is FDA-approved for ulcerative colitis under the brand name Zeposia. It's a daily pill that helps reduce inflammation in the colon. If your symptoms aren't controlled with your current treatment, ask your doctor if ozanimod might be right for you. Your doctor will monitor your liver function while you take it.
Eligibility for the treatments mentioned above depends on specific test results and clinical history. Bring this summary, the trial name, and your most recent labs or pathology report to your next visit.
Open ulcerative colitis trials
Stopping PPI Therapy in Inactive IBD
To investigate the feasibility of proton pump inhibitor (PPI) withdrawal in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD); the data collected will provide valuable information to inform a future multi-centre randomised controlled trial. Evidence suggests that patients with IBD taking PPIs respond less well to medication and require hospital treatment more frequently than patients not taking PPIs. This may be due to changes in the gut microbiota associated with PPI use. A future definitive trial is planned to investigate clinical outcomes in patients who stop PPIs compared with those who continue PPIs, in order to determine the safety implications of PPI use in IBD. However, several uncertainties remain which require investigation before such a trial can be undertaken. It is currently unknown how many patients with IBD take PPIs, how many can successfully stop taking PPIs, how many would be willing to stop treatment, and how many would remain off treatment long term. In some cases, withdrawal of PPIs may result in a short-term increase in acid reflux symptoms. The willingness of patients to participate in such a study is also unknown. This study will be conducted in GP practices, a setting in which IBD trials have not previously been undertaken. The study will recruit 80 participants with IBD aged 16 years and over who have been taking PPIs regularly for more than six months. Half of participants will be randomised to discontinue PPI therapy. Participants will be followed up for 12 months. The study will provide information regarding recruitment rates within GP practices, optimal methods for PPI withdrawal, and whether stopping PPIs affects IBD outcomes.
Comparison of Ustekinumab, Infliximab and Combination Therapy in Moderately to Severely Active Ulcerative Colitis
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if combined therapy with infliximab and ustekinumab works better than using these drugs alone in adult patients with ulcerative colitis. It will also learn about the safety of this combination. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does the combination therapy improve the symptoms and heal the intestine quicker and better than these drugs administered alone? Does the combination therapy improve the quality of life better than these drugs administered alone? What medical problems do participants have when taking the combination therapy? Participants: Patients diagnosed with UC will be qualified to biologic therapy (infliximab/ustekinumab/infliximab + ustekinumab). Visit the clinic in stated periods for assessment and to apply medication. Take drugs based on the schedule.