Testing two medications together, then one alone, for severe bowel inflammation

This study is testing a new treatment approach for moderate to severe ulcerative colitis. Researchers want to see if combining vedolizumab and upadacitinib for the first 8 weeks — then switching to vedolizumab alone for the long term — works better than using vedolizumab alone from the start. The idea is to use the faster-acting medication to get relief quickly, then switch to the safer long-term medication.

One medication works very safely over time but takes a while to start working, while another medication works quickly but may not be as safe for long-term use. This trial exists to see if combining them strategically gives patients the best of both worlds: fast relief and long-term safety.