Clinical insights into IL-23 inhibition: risankizumab for Crohn’s disease through a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

• Published in: Therapeutic advances in gastroenterology Vol. 18; p. 17562848251338743
• Main Authors: Huang, Po-Feng, Huang, Tien-Yu, Cheng, Yi-Chiao, Chen, Peng-Jen, Chang, Wei-Kuo, Chang, Chao-Feng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England SAGE Publications 01.01.2025; SAGE Publishing
• Subjects: Inflammatory GI Disorders Unveiled: Mechanisms and Emerging Treatments; meta-analysis; endoscopic remission; Risankizumab; IL-23 inhibitors; clinical remission; Crohn’s disease
• ISSN: 1756-2848; 1756-283X; 1756-2848
• DOI: 10.1177/17562848251338743

How Risankizumab helps treat Crohn’s disease: a review of clinical trial results Crohn’s disease is a long-term condition that causes inflammation in the digestive system. People with Crohn’s disease often experience symptoms like stomach pain, diarrhea, and tiredness, which can significantly affect their daily lives. Researchers have found that a protein called interleukin-23 (IL-23) plays a key role in this disease. Targeting IL-23 may help control the inflammation. Risankizumab is a medicine designed to block a part of IL-23, and it has been tested in clinical trials to see if it can help people with moderate-to-severe Crohn’s disease. To understand how well it works and whether it is safe, we combined the results of multiple high-quality studies in a process called a metaanalysis. Our analysis included four studies with a total of 1,774 patients. We found that Risankizumab significantly improved three key outcomes: Clinical remission: Fewer or no symptoms of Crohn’s disease. Clinical response: Noticeable improvement in symptoms. Endoscopic remission: Healing of the digestive tract, confirmed by a camera test. Patients who received Risankizumab were more likely to achieve these outcomes compared to those who received a placebo. The benefits were stronger with higher doses of the medication and with longer treatment durations for clinical remission. Importantly, the medicine was found to be safe. The rates of side effects were similar between patients taking Risankizumab and those taking a placebo. In conclusion, Risankizumab is an effective and safe treatment for people with moderate-to-severe Crohn’s disease. It helps reduce symptoms, promotes healing in the digestive tract, and works better at higher doses. This makes it a promising option for managing this challenging condition.