Ozanimod Induction and Maintenance Treatment for Ulcerative Colitis

In a placebo-controlled phase 2 trial involving patients with ulcerative colitis, ozanimod, an oral agonist of sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor subtypes 1 and 5, resulted in a slightly higher rate of clinical remission at 8 weeks. Ulcerative colitis is a chronic immune-mediated disease of the colon that is currently treated with mesalamine, glucocorticoids, thiopurines, and biologic agents. 1 , 2 A lack of universal response, the risks of infection and neoplasia, a requirement for parenteral administration, and the development of antidrug antibodies have created a need for safe and effective oral therapies. The sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) subtype 1 (S1P1) receptor is a member of a family of five widely expressed receptors (S1P1 through S1P5) that are responsible for regulating multiple immunologic and cardiovascular effects. 3 , 4 Cell-surface–associated S1P1 receptor plays a crucial role in the trafficking of lymphocytes from lymphoid . . .