Pfizer Inc. said it prepared 10 abstracts on Xeljanz (tofacitinib) in treating ulcerative colitis (UC) for presentation at the World Congress of Gastroenterology at the American College of Gastroenterology in Florida and the 25th United European Gastroenterology (UEG) in Spain.
Tofacitinib is currently used to treat adults with moderate to severely rheumatoid arthritis, Pfizer said in a release. Applications to use tofacitinib to treat UC currently are under review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the release said
“We are pleased to share this informative data with the gastroenterology community as it deepens our knowledge of tofacitinib in UC and the multifaceted needs of patients living with the condition,” Michael Corbo, chief development officer for inflammation and immunology at Pfizer Global Product Development, said in a release.
Poster presentations include on how tofacitinib can lead to symptomatic improvement within three days for UC patients, the efficacy of tofacitinib in patients with UC by prior tumor necrosis factor inhibitor treatment status and tofacitinib maintenance therapy, the release said. Additionally, Pfizer said in the release it prepared an oral presentation on herpes zoster infection in patients with UC receiving tofacitinib.
UC is a chronic, debilitating inflammatory bowel disease that affects millions of people around the world and is often misunderstood. Symptoms can include chronic diarrhea with blood and mucus, abdominal pain and cramping, fever and weight loss, the release said.
