An estimated 50% of people living with ulcerative colitis, a form of inflammatory bowel disease, experience moderate-to-severe symptoms that available treatments fail to control. An urgent need to defecate, bloody diarrhea, and abdominal pain can all significantly interrupt daily life. Researchers are currently looking into novel treatment options that could provide better disease management to those in need. One such option is mirikizumab, sold under the brand name Omvoh. 

According to an article published by UPI, at least two Phase 3 clinical studies identified mirikizumab as a promising option for ulcerative colitis. Mirikizumab is a p19-directed monoclonal antibody against interleukin-23 (IL-23), a pro-inflammatory protein. In particular, IL-23 has been linked to inflammation in the gut. By blocking IL-23, mirikizumab aims to reduce gut inflammation that can drive ulcerative colitis pain and swelling. 

Researchers, who published their findings in the New England Journal of Medicine, explained thattrial data included 1,281 adults with moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis. By week 12, 24.2% of people reached clinical remission. By week 40 in the maintenance trial, this number rose to 49.9%. The treatment was shown to be relatively safe and well-tolerated, with the most common side effects being the common cold and joint pain. A small subset of individuals also experienced opportunistic infections and cancer. 

Mirikizumab is approved in Japan and the European Union. However, its prospect in the United States remains uncertain. In April 2023, the FDA rejected mirikizumab, citing manufacturing issues. However, the drug developer hopes to address these issues and pursue approval in the future. 

What is Ulcerative Colitis?

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory disease that causes sores and ulcers to form in the large intestine. It typically occurs in people over 60 years old or between ages 15 and 30. If you have a family history of inflammatory bowel disease, or any Jewish heritage, you’re also at an increased risk of developing this disease. Symptoms and complications related to this disease may, but do not always, include:

• Anemia (low red blood cell count)
• Loose, bloody bowel movements
• Fatigue
• Unintentional weight loss
• Fecal urgency
• The need to defecate even when bowels are empty
• Low bone mass
• Slowed growth
• Delayed puberty
• Abdominal pain and cramping
• Joint pain
• Nausea
• Increased risk of colorectal cancer
• Intestinal perforations