Summary of the safety profileThe most commonly reported adverse reactions are infections (such as nasopharyngitis, upperrespiratory tract infection, bronchitis, influenza and sinusitis), headache, nausea, pyrexia, fatigue,cough, arthralgia.
No clinically relevant differences in the overall safety profile and adverse reactions were observed inpatients who received subcutaneous vedolizumab compared to the safety profile observed in clinicalstudies with intravenous vedolizumab with the exception of injection site reactions (with subcutaneousadministration).
Tabulated list of adverse reactionsThe following listing of adverse reactions is based on clinical trial and post marketing experience andis displayed by system organ class. Within the system organ classes, adverse reactions are listed underheadings of the following frequency categories: very common (≥ 1/10), common (≥ 1/100 to < 1/10),uncommon (≥ 1/1,000 to < 1/100), very rare (< 1/10,000) and not known (cannot be estimated fromthe available data). Within each frequency grouping, adverse reactions are presented in order ofdecreasing seriousness.
Table 1. Adverse reactions
System organ class Frequency Adverse reaction(s)
Infections and infestations Very common Nasopharyngitis
Common Pneumonia,
Clostridium difficile infection,
Bronchitis,
Gastroenteritis,
Upper respiratory tract infection,
Influenza,
Sinusitis,
Pharyngitis,
Herpes zoster
Uncommon Respiratory tract infection,
Vulvovaginal candidiasis,
Oral candidiasis
Immune system disorders Very rare Anaphylactic reaction,
Anaphylactic shock
Nervous system disorders Very common Headache
Common Paraesthesia
Eye disorders Uncommon Blurred vision
Vascular disorders Common Hypertension
Respiratory, thoracic and Common Oropharyngeal pain,mediastinal disorders Nasal congestion,
Cough
Not known Interstitial lung disease
Gastrointestinal disorders Common Anal Abscess,
Anal fissure,
Nausea,
Dyspepsia,
Constipation,
Abdominal distension,
Flatulence,
Haemorrhoids
Hepatobiliary disorders Common Liver enzyme increased
Very rare Hepatitis
Skin and subcutaneous tissue Common Rash,disorders Pruritus,
Eczema,
Erythema,
Night sweats,
Acne
Uncommon Folliculitis
System organ class Frequency Adverse reaction(s)
Musculoskeletal and connective Very common Arthralgiatissue disorders Common Muscle spasms,
Back pain,
Muscular weakness,
Fatigue,
Pain in the extremity
General disorders and Common Pyrexia,administration site conditions Infusion site reaction (including: Infusion sitepain and Infusion site irritation),
Infusion related reaction,
Injection site reactions#
Uncommon Chills,
Feeling cold#Subcutaneous administration only.
Description of selected adverse reactionsInjection site reactionsInjection site reactions (including pain, oedema, erythema or pruritus) were reported in 5.1% ofpatients receiving subcutaneous vedolizumab (pooled safety analysis). None resulted indiscontinuation of study treatment or changes to the dosing schedule. The majority of injection sitereactions resolved within 1-4 days. There were no reports of anaphylaxis following subcutaneousvedolizumab administration.
InfectionsIn GEMINI 1 and 2 controlled studies with intravenous vedolizumab, the rate of infections was0.85 per patient-year in the vedolizumab-treated patients and 0.70 per patient-year in theplacebo-treated patients. The infections consisted primarily of nasopharyngitis, upper respiratory tractinfection, sinusitis, and urinary tract infections. Most patients continued on vedolizumab after theinfection resolved.
In GEMINI 1 and 2 controlled studies with intravenous vedolizumab, the rate of serious infections was0.07 per patient year in vedolizumab-treated patients and 0.06 per patient year in placebo-treatedpatients. Over time, there was no significant increase in the rate of serious infections.
In controlled and open-label studies in adults with intravenous vedolizumab, serious infections havebeen reported, which include tuberculosis, sepsis (some fatal), salmonella sepsis, listeria meningitis,and cytomegaloviral colitis.
In clinical studies with subcutaneous vedolizumab, the rate of infections was 0.26 per patient year invedolizumab-treated patients. The most frequent infections were nasopharyngitis, upper respiratorytract infection, bronchitis and influenza.
In clinical studies with subcutaneous vedolizumab, the rate of serious infections was 0.02 per patientyear in subcutaneous vedolizumab-treated patients.
In clinical studies with intravenous and subcutaneous vedolizumab, the rate of infections invedolizumab-treated patients with BMI of 30 kg/m2 and above was higher than for those with BMI lessthan 30 kg/m2.
In clinical studies with intravenous and subcutaneous vedolizumab, a slightly higher incidence ofserious infections was reported in vedolizumab-treated patients who had prior exposure to TNFαantagonist therapy compared to patients who were naïve to previous TNFα antagonist therapy.
MalignancyOverall, results from the clinical program to date do not suggest an increased risk for malignancy withvedolizumab treatment; however, the number of malignancies was small and long-term exposure waslimited. Long-term safety evaluations are ongoing.
Reporting of suspected adverse reactionsReporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. Itallows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcareprofessionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the national reporting systemlisted in Appendix V.
Pharmacotherapeutic group: immunosuppressants, monoclonal antibodies, ATC code: L04AG05.
Mechanism of actionVedolizumab is a gut-selective immunosuppressive biologic. It is a humanised monoclonal antibodythat binds specifically to the α4β7 integrin, which is preferentially expressed on gut homing T helperlymphocytes. By binding to α4β7 on certain lymphocytes, vedolizumab inhibits adhesion of these cellsto mucosal addressin cell adhesion molecule-1 (MAdCAM-1), but not to vascular cell adhesionmolecule-1 (VCAM-1). MAdCAM-1 is mainly expressed on gut endothelial cells and plays a criticalrole in the homing of T lymphocytes to tissues within the gastrointestinal tract. Vedolizumab does notbind to, nor inhibit function of, the α4β1 and αEβ7 integrins.
The α4β7 integrin is expressed on a discrete subset of memory T helper lymphocytes whichpreferentially migrate into the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and cause inflammation that is characteristicof ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, both of which are chronic inflammatory immunologicallymediated conditions of the GI tract. Vedolizumab reduces gastrointestinal inflammation in UC and CDpatients. Inhibiting the interaction of α4β7 with MAdCAM-1 with vedolizumab prevents transmigrationof gut-homing memory T helper lymphocytes across the vascular endothelium into parenchymal tissuein nonhuman primates and induced a reversible 3-fold elevation of these cells in peripheral blood. Themurine precursor of vedolizumab alleviated gastrointestinal inflammation in colitic cotton-toptamarins, a model of ulcerative colitis.
In healthy subjects, ulcerative colitis patients, or Crohn’s disease patients, vedolizumab does notelevate neutrophils, basophils, eosinophils, B-helper and cytotoxic T lymphocytes, total memory Thelper lymphocytes, monocytes or natural killer cells, in the peripheral blood with no leukocytosisobserved.
Vedolizumab did not affect immune surveillance and inflammation of the central nervous system in
Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis in non-human primates, a model of multiple sclerosis.
Vedolizumab did not affect immune responses to antigenic challenge in the dermis and muscle (seesection 4.4). In contrast, vedolizumab inhibited an immune response to a gastrointestinal antigenicchallenge in healthy human volunteers (see section 4.4).
ImmunogenicityAntibodies to vedolizumab may develop during vedolizumab treatment most of which are neutralising.
The formation of anti-vedolizumab antibodies is associated with increased clearance of vedolizumaband lower rates of clinical remission.
Pharmacodynamic effectsIn clinical trials with intravenous vedolizumab at doses ranging from 0.2 to 10 mg/kg, > 95%saturation of α4β7 receptors on subsets of circulating lymphocytes involved in gut immune surveillancewas observed in patients.
Vedolizumab did not affect CD4+ and CD8+ trafficking into the CNS as evidenced by the lack ofchange in the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ in cerebrospinal fluid pre- and post-vedolizumab administration inhealthy human volunteers. These data are consistent with investigations in nonhuman primates whichdid not detect effects on immune surveillance of the CNS.
Clinical efficacy and safetyUlcerative colitis - vedolizumab for intravenous administration
The efficacy and safety of intravenous vedolizumab for the treatment of adult patients with moderatelyto severely active ulcerative colitis (Mayo score 6 to 12 with endoscopic sub score ≥ 2) wasdemonstrated in a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluating efficacy endpoints atweek 6 and week 52 (GEMINI 1). Enrolled patients had failed at least 1 conventional therapy,including corticosteroids, immunomodulators, and/or the TNFα antagonist infliximab (includingprimary non-responders). Concomitant stable doses of oral aminosalicylates, corticosteroids and/orimmunomodulators were permitted.
For the evaluation of the week 6 endpoints, 374 patients were randomised in a double-blind fashion(3:2) to receive vedolizumab 300 mg or placebo at week 0 and week 2. Primary endpoint was theproportion of patients with clinical response (defined as reduction in complete Mayo score of≥ 3 points and ≥ 30% from baseline with an accompanying decrease in rectal bleeding subscore of≥ 1 point or absolute rectal bleeding subscore of ≤ 1 point) at week 6. Table 2 shows the results fromthe primary and secondary endpoints evaluated.
Table 2. Week 6 efficacy results of GEMINI 1
Placebo Vedolizumab
Endpoint n = 149 n = 225
Clinical response 26% 47%*
Clinical remission§ 5% 17%†
Mucosal healing¶ 25% 41%‡
*p < 0.0001†p ≤ 0.001‡p < 0.05§Clinical remission: Complete Mayo score of ≤ 2 points and no individual subscore > 1 point¶Mucosal healing: Mayo endoscopic subscore of ≤ 1 point
The beneficial effect of vedolizumab on clinical response, remission and mucosal healing wasobserved both in patients with no prior TNFα antagonist exposure as well as in those who had failedprior TNFα antagonist therapy.
In GEMINI 1, 2 cohorts of patients received vedolizumab at week 0 and week 2: cohort 1 patientswere randomised to receive either vedolizumab 300 mg or placebo in a double-blind fashion, andcohort 2 patients were treated with open-label vedolizumab 300 mg. To evaluate efficacy at week 52,373 patients from cohort 1 and 2 who were treated with vedolizumab and had achieved clinicalresponse at week 6 were randomised in a double-blind fashion (1:1:1) to 1 of the following regimensbeginning at week 6: vedolizumab 300 mg every 8 weeks, vedolizumab 300 mg every 4 weeks, orplacebo every 4 weeks. Beginning at week 6, patients who had achieved clinical response and werereceiving corticosteroids were required to begin a corticosteroid-tapering regimen. Primary endpointwas the proportion of patients in clinical remission at week 52. Table 3 shows the results from theprimary and secondary endpoints evaluated.
Table 3. Week 52 efficacy results of GEMINI 1
Vedolizumab IV Vedolizumab IV
Placebo every 8 weeks every 4 weeks
Endpoint n = 126* n = 122 n = 125
Clinical remission 16% 42%† 45%†
Durable clinical response¶ 24% 57%† 52%†
Mucosal healing 20% 52%† 56%†
Durable clinical remission# 9% 20%§ 24%‡
Corticosteroid-free clinical remission♠ 14% 31%§ 45%†
*The placebo group includes those subjects who received vedolizumab at week 0 and week 2, and wererandomised to receive placebo from week 6 through week 52.†p < 0.0001‡p < 0.001§p < 0.05¶Durable clinical response: Clinical response at weeks 6 and 52#Durable clinical remission: Clinical remission at weeks 6 and 52♠Corticosteroid-free clinical remission: Patients using oral corticosteroids at baseline who haddiscontinued corticosteroids beginning at week 6 and were in clinical remission at week 52. Patientnumbers were n = 72 for placebo, n = 70 for vedolizumab every 8 weeks, and n = 73 for vedolizumabevery 4 weeks
Exploratory analyses provide additional data on key subpopulations studied. Approximately one-thirdof patients had failed prior TNFα antagonist therapy. Among these patients, 37% receivingvedolizumab every 8 weeks, 35% receiving vedolizumab every 4 weeks, and 5% receiving placeboachieved clinical remission at week 52. Improvements in durable clinical response (47%, 43%, 16%),mucosal healing (42%, 48%, 8%), durable clinical remission (21%, 13%, 3%) and corticosteroid-freeclinical remission (23%, 32%, 4%) were seen in the prior TNFα antagonist failure population treatedwith vedolizumab every 8 weeks, vedolizumab every 4 weeks and placebo, respectively.
Patients who failed to demonstrate response at week 6 remained in the study and receivedvedolizumab every 4 weeks. Clinical response using partial Mayo scores was achieved at week 10 andweek 14 by greater proportions of vedolizumab patients (32% and 39%, respectively) compared withplacebo patients (15% and 21%, respectively).
Patients who lost response to vedolizumab when treated every 8 weeks were allowed to enter anopen-label extension study and receive vedolizumab every 4 weeks. In these patients, clinicalremission was achieved in 25% of patients at week 28 and week 52.
Patients who achieved a clinical response after receiving vedolizumab at week 0 and 2 and were thenrandomised to placebo (for 6 to 52 weeks) and lost response were allowed to enter the open-labelextension study and receive vedolizumab every 4 weeks. In these patients, clinical remission wasachieved in 45% of patients by 28 weeks and 36% of patients by 52 weeks.
In this open-label extension study, the benefits of vedolizumab treatment as assessed by partial Mayoscore, clinical remission, and clinical response were shown for up to 196 weeks.
Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) was assessed by Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire(IBDQ), a disease specific instrument, and SF-36 and EQ-5D, which are generic measures.
Exploratory analysis show clinically meaningful improvements were observed for vedolizumabgroups, and the improvements were significantly greater as compared with the placebo group atweek 6 and week 52 on EQ-5D and EQ-5D VAS scores, all subscales of IBDQ (bowel symptoms,systemic function, emotional function and social function), and all subscales of SF-36 including the
Physical Component Summary (PCS) and Mental Component Summary (MCS).
Ulcerative colitis - vedolizumab for subcutaneous administration
The efficacy and safety of subcutaneous vedolizumab for the treatment of adult patients withmoderately to severely active ulcerative colitis (Mayo score 6 to 12 with endoscopic sub score ≥ 2)was demonstrated in a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluating efficacyendpoints at week 52 (VISIBLE 1). In VISIBLE 1, enrolled patients (n = 383) had failed at least1 conventional therapy, including corticosteroids, immunomodulators, and/or TNFα antagonists(including primary non responders). Concomitant stable doses of oral aminosalicylates, corticosteroidsand/or immunomodulators were permitted.
Patients who achieved clinical response to open-label treatment with intravenous vedolizumab atweek 6 were eligible to be randomised For the evaluation of the week 52 endpoints, 216 (56.4%)patients were randomised and treated in a double-blind fashion (2:1:1) to 1 of the following regimens:
subcutaneous vedolizumab 108 mg every 2 weeks, intravenous vedolizumab 300 mg every 8 weeks, orplacebo.
The baseline demographics were similar for patients in vedolizumab and placebo groups. The baseline
Mayo score was between 9 to 12 (severe ulcerative colitis) in about 62% and 6 to 8 (moderateulcerative colitis) in about 38% of the overall study population.
Primary study endpoint clinical remission was defined as a complete Mayo score of ≤ 2 points and noindividual subscore > 1 point at 52 weeks in patients who had achieved a clinical response at week 6of intravenous vedolizumab induction treatment. Clinical response was defined as a reduction incomplete Mayo score of ≥ 3 points and ≥ 30% from baseline with an accompanying decrease in rectalbleeding subscore of ≥ 1 point or absolute rectal bleeding subscore of ≤ 2 points and no individualsubscore >1 point.
Table 4 shows the evaluated results from the primary and secondary endpoints.
Table 4. Week 52 efficacy results of VISIBLE I
Estimatec of
Vedolizumab
Vedolizumab treatment
IVa Placebob SC 108 mg difference
Endpoint 300 mg P-valuecn = 56 every 2 weeks (95% CI)every 8 weeksn = 106 Vedolizumab SCn = 54vs. Placebo
Clinical remissiond 14.3% 46.2% 42.6% 32.3 (19.7, 45.0) p < 0.001
Mucosal healinge 21.4% 56.6% 53.7% 35.7 (22.1, 49.3) p < 0.001
Durable clinicalf 28.6% 64.2% 72.2% 36.1 (21.2, 50.9) p < 0.001response
Durable clinical p = 0.076g 5.4% 15.1% 16.7% 9.7 (-6.6, 25.7)remission (NS)
Corticosteroid-free p = 0.067h 8.3% 28.9% 28.6% 20.6 (-4.5, 43.7)remission (NS)aEndpoints are presented in the order that fixed-sequence testing was performed for control of Type 1 error at 5%bThe placebo group includes those subjects who received intravenous vedolizumab at week 0 and week 2, andwere randomised to receive placebo from week 6 through week 52.
cEstimate of treatment difference and the p-value for all endpoints is based on the Cochrane-Mantel-HaenszelmethoddClinical remission: Complete Mayo score of ≤ 2 points and no individual subscore > 1 point at week 52eMucosal healing: Mayo endoscopic subscore of ≤ 1 pointfDurable clinical response: Clinical response at weeks 6 and 52gDurable clinical remission: Clinical remission at weeks 6 and 52hCorticosteroid-free clinical remission: Patients using oral corticosteroids at baseline who had discontinuedcorticosteroids and were in clinical remission at week 52. Patient numbers using oral corticosteroids at baselinewere n = 24 for placebo, n = 45 for subcutaneous vedolizumab and n = 21 for intravenous vedolizumab
NS = non significant (2-tailed p-value > 0.05)
The primary and secondary endpoints were analysed in subgroups of patients who had failed prior
TNFα antagonist therapy (37%; n = 80) and patients who were naïve to previous TNFα antagonisttherapy (63%; n = 136). Results of study patients treated with placebo and subcutaneous vedolizumabin these subgroups are presented in Table 5.
Table 5. VISIBLE 1 Study results at week 52 analysed by response to prior previous TNFαantagonist therapy
Treatment once every 2 weeks
Placebo Vedolizumab SC 108 mg
Failure prior TNFα antagonist therapy n = 19 n = 39
Clinical remission 5.3% 33.3%
Mucosal healing 5.3% 46.2%
Durable clinical response 15.8% 66.7%
Durable clinical remission 0% 2.6%
Corticosteroid free clinical remissiona 8.3% 27.3%
Naive TNFα antagonist therapy n = 37 n = 67
Clinical remission 18.9% 53.7%
Mucosal healing 29.7% 62.7%
Durable clinical response 35.1% 62.7%
Durable clinical remission 8.1% 22.4%
Corticosteroid free clinical remissionb 8.3% 30.4%a Patients who had failed prior TNFα antagonist therapy and using oral corticosteroids at baseline were n = 12 forplacebo and n = 22 for subcutaneous vedolizumabb Patients who were naïve to prior TNFα antagonist therapy and using oral corticosteroids at baseline weren = 12 for placebo and n = 23 for subcutaneous vedolizumab
Health related quality of life (HRQOL) was assessed by Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire(IBDQ), a disease specific instrument, and EuroQol-5 Dimension (EQ-5D, including EQ 5D VAS),which is a generic measure. Work productivity was assessed by work productivity and activityimpairment questionnaire (WPAI-UC). Patients treated with subcutaneous vedolizumab maintainedimprovements in IBDQ, EQ-5D and WPAI-UC scores at week 52 to a greater extent than patients whoreceived placebo.
Patients who completed VISIBLE 1 were eligible to enrol in an ongoing, open-label extension study toevaluate long-term safety and efficacy of subcutaneous vedolizumab treatment in patients withulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease.
Patients in VISIBLE 1 who did not achieve clinical response at week 6 received a third dose ofvedolizumab 300 mg by intravenous infusion at week 6. Of patients who received a third dose ofvedolizumab 300 mg by intravenous infusion at week 6, 79.7% (114/143) achieved a clinical responseat week 14. Patients who achieved a clinical response at week 14 were eligible to enter the open-labelextension study and receive subcutaneous vedolizumab 108 mg every 2 weeks. Clinical remission asassessed by the partial Mayo score (a standardised measure that includes 3 of the 4 scored subscales ofthe complete Mayo score: stool frequency, rectal bleeding, and physician global assessment) wasachieved by 39.2% (40/102) of these patients at week 40 after transitioning to subcutaneousvedolizumab in the open-label extension study.
Patients randomised to intravenous vedolizumab treatment group in VISIBLE 1 received vedolizumab300 mg intravenously at weeks 0, 2, and 6 and every 8 weeks thereafter until week 52. At week 52,these patients entered the open-label extension study and received subcutaneous vedolizumab 108 mgevery 2 weeks. Clinical remission as assessed by the partial Mayo score was maintained in 77% ofpatients at 24 weeks after transitioning to subcutaneous vedolizumab in the open-label extensionstudy.
Crohn’s disease - vedolizumab for intravenous administration
The efficacy and safety of intravenous vedolizumab for the treatment of adult patients with moderatelyto severely active Crohn’s disease (Crohn’s Disease Activity Index [CDAI] score of 220 to 450) wereevaluated in 2 studies (GEMINI 2 and 3). Enrolled patients have failed at least 1 conventional therapy,including corticosteroids, immunomodulators, and/or TNFα antagonists (including primarynon-responders). Concomitant stable doses of oral corticosteroids, immunomodulators, and antibioticswere permitted.
The GEMINI 2 Study was a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluating efficacyendpoints at week 6 and week 52. Patients (n = 368) were randomised in a double-blind fashion (3:2)to receive 2 doses of vedolizumab 300 mg or placebo at week 0 and week 2. The 2 primary endpointswere the proportion of patients in clinical remission (defined as CDAI score ≤ 150 points) at week 6and the proportion of patients with enhanced clinical response (defined as a ≥ 100-point decrease in
CDAI score from baseline) at week 6 (see Table 6).
GEMINI 2 contained 2 cohorts of patients that received vedolizumab at weeks 0 and 2:
cohort 1 patients were randomised to receive either vedolizumab 300 mg or placebo in a double-blindfashion, and cohort 2 patients were treated with open-label vedolizumab 300 mg. To evaluate efficacyat week 52, 461 patients from cohorts 1 and 2, who were treated with vedolizumab and had achievedclinical response (defined as a ≥ 70-point decrease in CDAI score from baseline) at week 6, wererandomised in a double-blind fashion (1:1:1) to 1 of the following regimens beginning at week 6:
vedolizumab 300 mg every 8 weeks, vedolizumab 300 mg every 4 weeks, or placebo every 4 weeks.
Patients showing clinical response at week 6 were required to begin corticosteroid tapering. Primaryendpoint was the proportion of patients in clinical remission at week 52 (see Table 7).
The GEMINI 3 Study was a second randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study that evaluatedefficacy at week 6 and week 10 in the subgroup of patients defined as having failed at least1 conventional therapy and failed TNFα antagonist therapy (including primary non-responders) aswell as the overall population, which also included patients who failed at least 1 conventional therapyand were naïve to TNFα antagonist therapy. Patients (n = 416), which included approximately 75%
TNFα antagonist failures patients, were randomised in a double-blind fashion (1:1) to receive eithervedolizumab 300 mg or placebo at weeks 0, 2, and 6. The primary endpoint was the proportion ofpatients in clinical remission at week 6 in the TNFα antagonist failure subpopulation. As noted in
Table 6, although the primary endpoint was not met, exploratory analyses show that clinicallymeaningful results were observed.
Table 6. Efficacy results for GEMINI 2 and 3 studies at week 6 and week 10
Study
Endpoint Placebo Vedolizumab IV
GEMINI 2 Study
Clinical remission, week 6
Overall 7% (n = 148) 15%* (n = 220)
TNFα Antagonist(s) Failure 4% (n = 70) 11% (n = 105)
TNFα Antagonist(s) Naïve 9% (n = 76) 17% (n = 109)
Enhanced clinical response, week 6
Overall 26% (n = 148) 31%† (n = 220)
TNFα Antagonist(s) Failure 23% (n = 70) 24% (n = 105)
TNFα Antagonist(s) Naïve 30% (n = 76) 42% (n = 109)
Serum CRP change from baseline toweek 6, median (mcg/mL)
Overall‡ -0.5 (n = 147) -0.9 (n = 220)
GEMINI 3 Study
Clinical remission, week 6
Overall‡ 12% (n = 207) 19% (n = 209)
TNFα Antagonist(s) Failure¶ 12% (n = 157) 15%§ (n = 158)
TNFα Antagonist(s) Naïve 12% (n = 50) 31% (n = 51)
Clinical remission, week 10
Overall 13% (n = 207) 29% (n = 209)
TNFα Antagonist(s) Failure¶,‡ 12% (n = 157) 27% (n = 158)
TNFα Antagonist(s) Naïve 16% (n = 50) 35% (n = 51)
Sustained clinical remission#,¶
Overall 8% (n = 207) 15% (n = 209)
TNFα Antagonist(s) Failure¶,‡ 8% (n = 157) 12% (n = 158)
TNFα Antagonist(s) Naïve 8% (n = 50) 26% (n = 51)
Enhanced clinical response, week 6
Overall^ 23% (n = 207) 39% (n = 209)
TNFα Antagonist(s) Failure‡ 22% (n = 157) 39% (n = 158)
TNFα Antagonist(s) Naïve^ 24% (n = 50) 39% (n = 51)
*p < 0.05†not statistically significant‡secondary endpoint to be viewed as exploratory by pre-specified statistical testing procedure§not statistically significant, the other endpoints were therefore not tested statistically¶n = 157 for placebo and n = 158 for vedolizumab#Sustained clinical remission: clinical remission at weeks 6 and 10^Exploratory Endpoint
Table 7. Efficacy results for GEMINI 2 at week 52
Vedolizumab IV Vedolizumab IV
Placebo every 8 weeks every 4 weeksn = 153* n = 154 n = 154
Clinical remission 22% 39%† 36%‡
Enhanced clinical response 30% 44%‡ 45%‡
Corticosteroid-free clinical remission§ 16% 32%‡ 29%‡
Durable clinical remission¶ 14% 21% 16%
*The placebo group includes those subjects who received vedolizumab at week 0 and week 2, and wererandomised to receive placebo from week 6 through week 52.†p < 0.001‡p < 0.05§Corticosteroid-free clinical remission: Patients using oral corticosteroids at baseline who had discontinuedcorticosteroids beginning at week 6 and were in clinical remission at week 52. Patient numbers were n = 82for placebo, n = 82 for vedolizumab every 8 weeks, and n = 80 for vedolizumab every 4 weeks¶Durable clinical remission: Clinical remission at ≥ 80% of study visits including final visit (week 52)
Exploratory analyses examined the effects of concomitant corticosteroids and immunomodulators oninduction of remission with vedolizumab. Combination treatment, most notably with concomitantcorticosteroids, appeared to be more effective in inducing remission in Crohn’s disease thanvedolizumab alone or with concomitant immunomodulators, which showed a smaller difference fromplacebo in the rate of remission. Clinical remission rate in GEMINI 2 at week 6 was 10% (differencefrom placebo 2%, 95% CI: -6, 10) when administered without corticosteroids compared to 20%(difference from placebo 14%, 95% CI: -1, 29) when administered with concomitant corticosteroids.
In GEMINI 3 at week 6 and 10 the respective clinical remission rates were 18% (difference fromplacebo 3%, 95% CI: -7, 13) and 22% (difference from placebo 8%, 95% CI: -3, 19) whenadministered without corticosteroids compared to 20% (difference from placebo 11%, 95% CI: 2, 20)and 35% (difference from placebo 23%, 95% CI: 12, 33) respectively when administered withconcomitant corticosteroids. These effects were seen whether or not immunomodulators were alsoconcomitantly administered.
Exploratory analyses provide additional data on key subpopulations studied. In GEMINI 2,approximately half of patients had previously failed TNFα antagonist therapy. Among these patients,28% receiving vedolizumab every 8 weeks, 27% receiving vedolizumab every 4 weeks, and 13%receiving placebo achieved clinical remission at week 52. Enhanced clinical response was achieved in29%, 38%, 21%, respectively, and corticosteroid-free clinical remission was achieved in 24%, 16%,0%, respectively.
Patients who failed to demonstrate response at week 6 in GEMINI 2 were retained in the study andreceived vedolizumab every 4 weeks. Enhanced clinical response was observed at week 10 andweek 14 for greater proportions of vedolizumab patients 16% and 22%, respectively, compared withplacebo patients 7% and 12%, respectively. There was no clinically meaningful difference in clinicalremission between treatment groups at these time points. Analyses of week 52 clinical remission inpatients who were non-responders at week 6 but achieved response at week 10 or week 14 indicatethat non-responder CD patients may benefit from a dose of vedolizumab at week 10.
Patients who lost response to vedolizumab when treated every 8 weeks in GEMINI 2 were allowed toenter an open-label extension study and received vedolizumab every 4 weeks. In these patients,clinical remission was achieved in 23% of patients at week 28 and 32% of patients at week 52.
Patients who achieved a clinical response after receiving vedolizumab at week 0 and 2 and were thenrandomised to placebo (for 6 to 52 weeks) and lost response were allowed to enter the open-labelextension study and receive vedolizumab every 4 weeks. In these patients, clinical remission wasachieved in 46% of patients by 28 weeks and 41% of patients by 52 weeks.
In this open-label extension study, clinical remission and clinical response were observed in patientsfor up to 196 weeks.
Exploratory analysis showed clinically meaningful improvements were observed for the vedolizumabevery 4 weeks and every 8 weeks groups in GEMINI 2 and the improvements were significantlygreater as compared with the placebo group from baseline to week 52 on EQ-5D and EQ-5D VASscores, total IBDQ score, and IBDQ subscales of bowel symptoms and systemic function.
Crohn’s disease - vedolizumab for subcutaneous administration
The efficacy and safety of subcutaneous vedolizumab for the treatment of adult patients withmoderately to severely active Crohn’s disease (CDAI score of 220 to 450) was demonstrated in arandomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluating efficacy endpoints atweek 52 (VISIBLE 2). In VISIBLE 2, enrolled patients (n = 644) had inadequate response to, loss ofresponse to, or intolerance to one conventional therapy, including corticosteroids, immunomodulators,and/or TNFα antagonists (including primary non-responders). Concomitant stable doses of oralaminosalicylates, corticosteroids and/or immunomodulators were permitted.
Patients who achieved clinical response to open-label treatment with intravenous vedolizumab atweek 6 were eligible to be randomised. For the evaluation of the week 52 endpoints, 409 (64%)patients were randomised and treated in a double-blind fashion (2:1) to receive subcutaneousvedolizumab 108 mg (n = 275) or subcutaneous placebo (n = 134) every 2 weeks.
The baseline demographics were similar for patients in vedolizumab and placebo groups. The baseline
CDAI was > 330 (severe Crohn’s disease) in about 41% and ≤ 330 (moderate Crohn’s disease) inabout 59% of the overall study population.
Beginning at week 6, patients who had achieved clinical response (defined as a ≥ 70-point decrease inthe CDAI score from baseline) and were receiving corticosteroids were required to begin acorticosteroid tapering regimen. Primary endpoint was the proportion of patients with clinicalremission (CDAI score ≤ 150) at week 52. The secondary endpoints were the proportion of patientswith enhanced clinical response ( ≥ 100 point decrease in CDAI score from baseline) at week 52, theproportion of patients with corticosteroid-free remission (patients using oral corticosteroids at baselinewho had discontinued corticosteroids and were in clinical remission) at week 52, and the proportion of
TNFα antagonist naïve patients who achieved clinical remission (CDAI score ≤ 150) at week 52.
Table 8 shows the evaluated results from the primary and secondary endpoints.
Table 8. Week 52 efficacy results of VISIBLE 2
Estimate‡ of
Vedolizumab† treatment difference
Placebo SC 108 mg
Endpoint* (95% CI) P-value‡n = 134 every 2 weeks
Vedolizumab SC vs.n = 275
Placebo
Clinical remission§ 34.3% 48.0% 13.7 (3.8, 23.7) p = 0.008p = 0.167
Enhanced clinical response# 44.8% 52.0% 7.3 (-3.0, 17.5)(NS)
Corticosteroid-free
** 18.2% 45.3% 27.1 (11.9, 42.3) p = 0.002‡‡remission
Clinical remission in TNFᆆ 42.9% 48.6% 4.3 (-11.6, 20.3) p = 0.591‡‡antagonist naïve patients
*Endpoints are presented in the order that fixed-sequence testing was performed for control of Type 1 error at5%†The placebo group includes those subjects who received intravenous vedolizumab at week 0 and week 2, andwere randomised to receive placebo from week 6 through week 52.‡Estimate of treatment difference and the p-value for all endpoints is based on the Cochrane-Mantel-Haenszelmethod§Clinical remission: CDAI score ≤ 150, at week 52#Enhanced clinical response: ≥ 100-point decrease in CDAI score from baseline (week 0), at week 52
**Corticosteroid-free clinical remission: Patients using oral corticosteroids at baseline who had discontinuedcorticosteroids and were in clinical remission at week 52. Patient numbers using oral corticosteroids atbaseline were n = 44 for placebo and n = 95 for subcutaneous vedolizumab.
†† Clinical remission (CDAI score ≤ 150, at week 52) in TNFα antagonist naïve patients (n = 63 placebo;n = 107 subcutaneous vedolizumab‡‡ nominal p-value
NS = non significant (2-tailed p-value > 0.05)
The primary and secondary endpoints were analysed in subgroups of patients who were naïve to prior
TNFα antagonist therapy (42%; n = 170), patients who had failed prior TNFα antagonist therapy(51%; n = 210), and patients who had exposure to prior TNFα antagonist therapy but did notexperience treatment failure (7%; n = 29). Results of study patients treated with placebo andsubcutaneous vedolizumab in these subgroups are presented in Tables 9 and 10.
Table 9. Week 52 efficacy results in TNFα antagonist naïve patients in VISIBLE 2
Treatment difference
Vedolizumab SC 108 mg (95% CI)
Placebo every 2 weeks Vedolizumab SC vs.
Endpoint n = 63 n = 107 Placebo
Clinical remission 42.9% 48.6% 4.3 (-11.6, 20.3)
Enhanced clinical response 47.6% 54.2% 4.4 (-11.6, 20.3)
Corticosteroid-free 22.8 (-3.2, 46.8)
** 18.2% 41.0%remission
** Patients who were naïve to prior TNFα antagonist therapy and using oral corticosteroids at baseline weren = 22 for placebo and n = 39 for subcutaneous vedolizumab
Table 10. Week 52 efficacy results in patients who failed TNFα antagonist therapy in
VISIBLE 2
Treatment difference
Vedolizumab SC 108 mg (95% CI)
Placebo every 2 weeks Vedolizumab SC vs.
Endpoint n = 59 n = 151 Placebo
Clinical remission 28.8% 46.4% 17.6 (3.8, 31.4)
Enhanced clinical response 45.8% 49.0% 3.2 (-11.8, 18.2)
Corticosteroid-free 31.2 (5.2, 54.5)
** 15.0% 46.2%remission
** Patients who had failed prior TNFα antagonist therapy and using oral corticosteroids at baseline weren = 20 for placebo and n = 52 for subcutaneous vedolizumab
HRQOL was assessed by IBDQ, a disease specific instrument, and EQ-5D (including EQ-5D VAS),which is a generic measure. Work productivity was assessed by WPAI-CD. Patients treated withsubcutaneous vedolizumab maintained improvements in IBDQ, EQ-5D and WPAI-CD scores atweek 52 to a greater extent than patients who received placebo.
Patients who completed VISIBLE 2 were eligible to enrol in an ongoing, open-label extension study toevaluate long-term safety and efficacy of subcutaneous vedolizumab treatment in patients withulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease.
Paediatric populationThe European Medicines Agency has deferred the obligation to submit the results of studies withvedolizumab in 1 or more subsets of the paediatric population in ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease(see section 4.2 for information on paediatric use).