The fight against Crohn's disease, a constant challenge in modern medicine, is enriched by a new chapter with the recent GALAXY 1 study. In this international phase II study, guselkumab, a monoclonal antibody already known for the treatment of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, has proven to be a valid candidate in reducing intestinal inflammation associated with Crohn's disease.
These encouraging results open new perspectives for patients suffering from this inflammatory bowel disease. And they offer a possible path towards more effective treatments and a better quality of life.
Crohn's disease: an ongoing challenge
Il Crohn's disease it is a chronic pathology that can manifest itself along the entire gastrointestinal tract. It causes variable symptoms based on its location. The symptoms, often disabling, can significantly compromise patients' daily lives.
Today, treatments focus on reducing inflammation to induce and maintain remission of symptoms. However, not all patients respond effectively to existing therapies, underlining the need for new therapeutic options.
Guselkumab: a new hope
Guselkumab, known for its role in the treatment of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, showed significant potential in the treatment of Crohn's disease in the recent GALAXY 1 study. This monoclonal antibody works inhibiting interleukin 23, a key molecule in the regulation of intestinal inflammation. Its effectiveness was evaluated by comparing it with ustekinumab, another drug with a similar mechanism of action, and with placebo.
I study (I link it here) involved more than 350 patients globally. The results demonstrated that all guselkumab doses tested (200, 600, and 1200 IV) resulted in significant clinical and endoscopic improvement compared to placebo. Particularly relevant results, if we consider that many participants in the study were among patients who had not responded or were intolerant to conventional therapies.
A notable aspect of this monoclonal antibody is its ability to induce remission in patients without the need for corticosteroids. This is especially important, as long-term use of steroids can have significant side effects. The option of effective treatment without steroids represents an important step forward in the management of Crohn's disease.
A “catch-all” monoclonal antibody
Crohn's disease research has made great strides in recent years, and the introduction of guselkumab represents a further important advance. Second Silvio Danese, director of the Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy Unit of the IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital and coordinator of the study, guselkumab showed superior benefits to ustekinumab. This portends a significant impact on the treatment options available for Crohn's.
Given the success of guselkumab in the GALAXY 1 study, the drug has already entered phase 3 of testing, which will involve an even greater number of participants. If this phase confirms the positive results already obtained, it is likely that guselkumab will receive approval from regulatory bodies and become available to the public.
