Pfizer reports positive ulcerative colitis data for tofacitinib

Pfizer has reported clinical study data that demonstrates the safety and efficacy of tofacitinib in the treatment of ulcerative colitis.

Results from the first two pivotal phase III studies from the OCTAVE programme have shown the effectiveness of oral tofacitinib, administered twice daily, in inducing remission in adult patients with moderately to severely active forms of the disease.

Both studies met their primary endpoint after eight weeks of treatment, resulting in a significantly greater proportion of patients receiving tofacitinib achieving remission compared to those on placebo.

The drug was also associated with better rates of mucosal healing, while its safety profile was comparable to the placebo group.

Dr Geert D'Haens, professor of Gastroenterology at the Academic Medical Center at the University of Amsterdam, said: "We are encouraged by the results from the OCTAVE Induction studies, as they showed that in these trials oral tofacitinib reduced the symptoms of moderate to severe ulcerative colitis and induced remission of the disease."

Tofacitinib is approved under the brand name Xeljanz for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in more than 45 countries.