A multicenter study of the real-world effectiveness and safety of risankizumab in Crohn's disease

J Crohns Colitis. 2025 May 8;19(5):jjaf070. doi: 10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjaf070.

Abstract

Background: We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of risankizumab (RZB) for Crohn's disease (CD) in routine clinical practice.

Methods: We performed a retrospective review of a multicenter consortium of CD patients treated with RZB. Co-primary outcomes were week 12 clinical remission (Harvey Bradshaw Index [HBI] score of ≤4 or physician global assessment in those without HBI or with ileostomy) and 6-month endoscopic remission (Simplified Endoscopic Mucosal Assessment for Crohn's Disease of 0-1 or absence of ulcers). Secondary outcomes included steroid-free clinical remission, clinical response, radiographic response, cumulative clinical and endoscopic remission rates at 6 and 12 months, and adverse events.

Results: A total of 309 patients were included (median disease duration 14 years [IQR, 6-24]; median follow-up 7.1 months [IQR, 4.1-10.3]). Most patients (85.8%) were advanced therapy (AT)-exposed, and 169 (54.7%) had prior ustekinumab (UST) exposure. Week 12 clinical remission rates were 49.7% (98/197) overall, and 44.2% (50/113) vs 57.1% (48/84) in UST-exposed vs naïve patients (P = .073). Among those with active disease on baseline endoscopy (n = 122) who had an available follow-up at 6 months, 52.4% (22/42) achieved endoscopic remission. Cumulative rates of clinical and endoscopic remission at 12 months were 65.0% and 49.5%, respectively. Cumulative 12-month endoscopic remission was 33.9% (19/56) in UST-exposed and 68.1% (32/47) in UST-naïve patients (P < .001). Risankizumab was well-tolerated with no new safety signals identified.

Conclusions: In this large multicenter cohort of patients with CD, RZB was well-tolerated and effective in achieving favorable clinical and endoscopic outcomes in both AT-exposed and naïve populations, including those with exposure to UST.

Keywords: Crohn’s disease (CD); interleukin; risankizumab (RZB).

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal* / therapeutic use
  • Crohn Disease* / drug therapy
  • Female
  • Gastrointestinal Agents* / adverse effects
  • Gastrointestinal Agents* / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Remission Induction
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • risankizumab
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Gastrointestinal Agents