Top stories in gastroenterology: Abrilumab, Xeljanz, help certain patients with ulcerative colitis

Three of the most popular stories in gastroenterology last week focused on ulcerative colitis: one provided data on how abrilumab helped treat certain patients with the condition; the second showed how Xeljanz appeared safe in these patients despite a risk for herpes zoster; and the third discussed the initiation of a first-in-human study to evaluate the safety and tolerability of an antibody therapy for the condition.

Rounding out the other top stories for the week were tips on discussing pancreatic cancer screening with patients and a study that found hypnotherapy was feasible in treating patients with irritable bowel syndrome. – by Janel Miller

Abrilumab induces remission, healing in moderate to severe ulcerative colitis

Abrilumab, an anti-alpha-4 beta-7 antibody, helped induce remission, clinical response and mucosal healing in patients with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis, according to research published in Gastroenterology. Read more.

Xeljanz appears safe for ulcerative colitis treatment despite herpes zoster risk

Xeljanz — a small-molecule Janus kinase inhibitor — appeared safe for the treatment of patients with moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis, based on more than 4 years of data from global clinical trials published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology. Read more.

First-in-human study to evaluate safety, tolerability of therapy for ulcerative colitis

OSE Immunotherapeutics has received authorization to initiate a phase 1 clinical trial of OSE-127, a monoclonal antibody targeting the IL-7 receptor with a novel mechanism of action, for the treatment of ulcerative colitis, according to a company press release. Read more. Read more.

Q&A: Early pancreatic cancer diagnoses provide best chance for long-term survival

Healio spoke with Victoria Manax, MD, chief medical officer at Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, and Michael Goggins, MBBCh, MD, director of the Pancreatic Cancer Early Detection Laboratory at Johns Hopkins Hospital, about how to screen patients for pancreatic cancer as well as the benefits of early detection. Read more.

Hypnotherapy viable option for relieving irritable bowel syndrome

Hypnotherapy in both individual and group sessions helped patients with irritable bowel syndrome achieve symptom relief, according to research published in The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology. Read more.