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The symbiotic pathogenic bacterium Xenorhabdus nematophila produces two distinct intracellular inclusion bodies. The pixA gene, which encodes the 185-residue methionine-rich PixA inclusion body protein, was analyzed in the present study. The pixA gene was optimally expressed under stationary-phase conditions but its expression did not require RpoS. Analysis of a pixA mutant strain showed that PixA was not required for virulence towards the insect host or for colonization of or survival within the nematode host, and was not essential for nematode reproduction. The pixA gene was not present in the genome of Xenorhabdus bovienii, which also produces proteinaceous inclusions, indicating that PixA is specifically produced in X. nematophila.

Background and Aims: Sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor modulators have been associated with an increased risk of macular edema. Etrasimod is an oral, once-daily, selective sphingosine 1-phosphate1,4,5 receptor modulator., Methods: We report the proportions and incidence rates [per 100 patient-years of exposure] of Macular edema and other ocular adverse events in the etrasimod clinical program, including patients with ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, eosinophilic esophagitis, alopecia areata and atopic dermatitis. Ulcerative colitis data were analyzed in two cohorts: Placebo-controlled ulcerative colitis and All ulcerative colitis [comprising the Placebo-controlled ulcerative colitis cohort plus open-label extension studies]., Results: In the Placebo-controlled ulcerative colitis cohort, Macular edema was reported in two patients receiving etrasimod [0.3%; incidence rate: 0.70] and one receiving placebo [0.3%; incidence rate: 0.84]. In the All ulcerative colitis cohort, one patient [0.1%; incidence rate: 0.13] receiving etrasimod reported two events of Cystoid macular edema. All events were non-serious, and one led to treatment discontinuation. No events of Macular edema were reported in other conditions. Nine and four patients receiving etrasimod reported Vision blurred and Visual impairment adverse events, respectively. All events were non-serious and most did not require any intervention., Conclusions: Macular edema and other ocular events were uncommon in patients treated with etrasimod across multiple conditions. Incidence of Macular edema was comparable with placebo., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of European Crohn’s and Colitis Organisation.)

Background: Etrasimod is an oral, once-daily (QD), selective sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) 1,4,5 receptor modulator for the treatment of moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis (UC). It is known that non-serious treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) may not lead to UC drug discontinuation but can affect treatment tolerability., Objectives: This post hoc analysis evaluated the incidence of specific, common, non-serious TEAEs reported in the etrasimod UC clinical programme and the characteristics of affected patients., Design: Data included patients from the Placebo-controlled UC cohort (phase II OASIS, and phase III ELEVATE UC 52 and ELEVATE UC 12 trials) receiving QD etrasimod (2 or 1 mg) or placebo., Methods: Proportions and incidence rates (IRs; the number of patients with a TEAE divided by the total exposure in patient-years (PYs), per 100 PY) of Headache, Pyrexia, Nausea and Dizziness TEAEs were reported. Changes in heart rate among patients with Dizziness TEAEs were also evaluated., Results: Among 943 patients (etrasimod 2 mg, N  = 577 (276.7 PY); etrasimod 1 mg, N  = 52 (11.4 PY); placebo, N  = 314 (115.1 PY)), 48, 34, 27 and 21 patients experienced events of Headache, Pyrexia, Nausea and Dizziness, respectively. All events were non-serious; one patient treated with etrasimod was discontinued due to a Pyrexia TEAE. Numerically, IRs of Headache and Dizziness TEAEs were higher, and Nausea slightly higher, with etrasimod versus placebo (13.45 vs 8.63 per 100 PY, 6.52 vs 1.69 and 7.18 vs 5.13 per 100 PY, respectively); IRs were similar for Pyrexia. The duration of most TEAEs was 1-10 days., Conclusion: In the etrasimod UC clinical programme, all Headache, Pyrexia, Nausea and Dizziness events were non-serious. Headache and Dizziness were more frequent, and Nausea slightly more frequent, among patients receiving etrasimod versus placebo. The post hoc nature of this analysis is a limitation. These results reiterate the favourable safety profile and tolerability of etrasimod., Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02447302; NCT03945188; NCT03996369., Competing Interests: C.W.L. has received speaker fees from AbbVie, Dr Falk, Ferring, Hospira, Janssen, MSD, Pfizer Inc., Shire, Takeda and Warner-Chilcott; has receiving consultant fees from AbbVie, Dr Falk, Gilead, GSK, Hospira, Iterative Scopes, Janssen, MSD, Oshi Health, Pfizer Inc., Pharmacosmos, Takeda, Topivert, Trellus Health and Vifor Pharma and has received research funding from AbbVie and Gilead. J.T. has received advisory board fees from AbbVie, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Janssen and Pfizer Inc.; has received research grants from AbbVie and Janssen and has received speaker fees from AbbVie, Galapagos, Janssen and Pfizer Inc. Y.L. has served on advisory committee/as a board member for AbbVie, Celltrion, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Pfizer Inc., Sandoz, Takeda and has acted as a consultant for AbbVie, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Pfizer Inc. and Takeda. S.V. has received research grants from AbbVie, Galapagos, J&J, Pfizer and Takeda and has received speakers’ and/or consultancy fees from AbbVie, Abivax, AbolerISPharma, AgomAb, Alimentiv, Arena Pharmaceuticals, AstraZeneca, BMS, Boehringer Ingelheim, Celgene, Cytoki Pharma, Dr Falk Pharma, Ferring, Galapagos, Genentech-Roche, Gilead, GSK, Hospira, Imidomics, Janssen, J&J, Lilly, Materia Prima, Mestag Therapeutics, MiroBio, Morphic, MrMHealth, Mundipharma, MSD, Pfizer Inc., Prodigest, Progenity, Prometheus, Robarts Clinical Trials, Surrozen, Takeda, Theravance, Tillotts Pharma AG, VectivBio, Ventyx and Zealand Pharma. M.F., I.M., A.M., K.L., M.K. and J.W. are employees and shareholders of Pfizer Inc. M.G. is an employee and shareholder of Pfizer AG. E.V.L. has received consulting fees from AbbVie, Alvotech, Amgen, Arena, Astellas, Avalo Therapeutics, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celltrion Healthcare, Eli Lilly Fresenius Kabi, Genentech, Gilead, GlaxoSmithKline, Gossamer Bio, Iota Biosciences, Iterative Health, Janssen, KSL Diagnostics, Morphic Therapeutic, Ono Pharma, Protagonist, Scipher Medicine, Sun Pharma, Surrozen, Takeda, TR1X and UCB Pharma; has received research support from AbbVie, AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene/Receptos, Genentech, Gilead, Gossamer Bio, Janssen, Pfizer Inc., Takeda, Theravance and UCB Pharma and is a shareholder of Exact Sciences., (© The Author(s), 2024.)

Background and Aims: Etrasimod is an oral, once daily, selective, sphingosine 1-phosphate [S1P]1,4,5 receptor modulator for the treatment of moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis [UC]. This subgroup analysis evaluated the efficacy and safety of etrasimod 2 mg once daily vs placebo by prior biologic/Janus kinase inhibitor [bio/JAKi] exposure in ELEVATE UC 52 and ELEVATE UC 12., Methods: Pre-defined efficacy endpoints were assessed at Weeks 12 and 52 in ELEVATE UC 52 and Week 12 in ELEVATE UC 12 in bio/JAKi-naïve and -experienced patients, and at Week 12 [pooled] based on prior advanced therapy exposure mechanism., Results: In the ELEVATE UC 52 and ELEVATE UC 12 analysis populations, 80/274 [29.2%] and 74/222 [33.3%] patients receiving etrasimod and 42/135 [31.1%] and 38/112 [33.9%] patients receiving placebo, respectively, were bio/JAKi-experienced. In both bio/JAKi-naïve and -experienced patients, a significantly greater proportion receiving etrasimod vs placebo achieved clinical remission [p < 0.05] in ELEVATE UC 52 at Weeks 12 [naïve: 30.9% vs 9.7%; experienced: 17.5% vs 2.4%] and 52 [naïve: 36.6% vs 7.5%; experienced: 21.3% vs 4.8%]; in ELEVATE UC 12, this was observed only for bio/JAKi-naïve patients [naïve: 27.7% vs 16.2%, p = 0.033; experienced: 18.9% vs 13.2%, p = 0.349]. Similar patterns were observed for most efficacy endpoints. Among patients with prior anti-integrin exposure [N = 90], a significantly greater proportion achieved clinical response [54.1% vs 27.6%, p = 0.030], but not clinical remission [9.8% vs 3.4%, p = 0.248], with etrasimod vs placebo., Conclusions: Bio/JAKi-naïve and -experienced patients had clinically meaningful induction and maintenance treatment benefits with etrasimod vs placebo., Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT03945188; NCT03996369., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of European Crohn’s and Colitis Organisation.)

Background and Aims: Infections are a safety concern in patients with ulcerative colitis [UC]. Etrasimod is an oral, once daily [QD], selective sphingosine 1-phosphate [S1P]1,4,5 receptor modulator for the treatment of moderately to severely active UC. It leads to selective and reversible lymphocyte sequestration and partial peripheral lymphocyte count decrease. We report infection events from the phase 3 ELEVATE programme., Methods: Proportions, incidence rates [IRs; per 100 patient-years], and descriptive analyses of all serious, severe, herpes zoster and opportunistic infections are reported in the Pivotal UC cohort [ELEVATE UC 52 and ELEVATE UC 12]. Cox regression models evaluated potential baseline risk factors., Results: In this analysis [n = 787], proportions [IRs] of all infection events were similar for patients receiving etrasimod 2 mg QD (18.8% [41.1]) or placebo (17.7% [49.0]). Serious infections occurred in three [0.6%] and five [1.9%] patients receiving etrasimod and placebo, respectively. Two herpes zoster events were reported in each group [etrasimod: 0.4%; placebo: 0.8%], all localised and non-serious. One opportunistic infection event was reported in each group. No patient with an absolute lymphocyte count [ALC] < 0.2 × 109/L reported serious/severe or opportunistic infections; no baseline risk factors were identified for such events. No deaths occurred., Conclusions: Patients receiving etrasimod demonstrated no increased risk of infection. The incidence of serious infections and herpes zoster was similar in each group. Among patients receiving etrasimod, no association between ALC < 0.5 × 109/L and infection events was observed. Longer-term follow-up will further characterise the etrasimod safety profile. Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT03945188; NCT03996369., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of European Crohn’s and Colitis Organisation.)

Background: Etrasimod is an oral, once-daily (QD), selective sphingosine 1-phosphate1,4,5 receptor modulator for the treatment of moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis (UC). Here, we evaluate the impact of etrasimod 2 mg QD on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with UC., Methods: This post hoc analysis used data from the Phase 3 randomized controlled trials, ELEVATE UC 52 and ELEVATE UC 12. HRQoL measures included: Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (IBDQ), 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36), and Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire: Ulcerative Colitis (WPAI:UC) completed at baseline, Week 12 (both trials), and Week 52 (ELEVATE UC 52 only). For IBDQ analyses, patients were stratified by prior exposure to biologics/Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKi) and baseline modified Mayo score (MMS; 4-6 or 7-9)., Results: Generally, significantly greater proportions of patients receiving etrasimod (N = 527) vs placebo (N = 260) achieved IBDQ remission (IBDQ total score ≥170) and IBDQ response (IBDQ total score increase from baseline ≥16), with significant improvement in all IBDQ domain scores at Week 12 and maintained through Week 52. Significant differences in IBDQ remission and IBDQ response rates between etrasimod and placebo were more consistent among biologic/JAKi-naive patients vs those who were biologic/JAKi-experienced and in those with baseline MMS 7-9 vs 4-6. Significant improvements were observed in several SF-36 domain and summary scores and WPAI:UC domain scores at Week 12 and Week 52., Conclusions: Etrasimod 2 mg QD demonstrated significant and clinically meaningful improvements across multiple HRQoL measures, including WPAI, vs placebo., Clinical Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03945188; NCT03996369., (© 2024 Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation.)

Background: Etrasimod is an oral, once-daily, selective sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P)1,4,5 receptor modulator for the treatment of moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis (UC). This post hoc analysis reports efficacy and safety by baseline corticosteroid use in the ELEVATE UC clinical programme., Methods: Patients with UC received etrasimod 2 mg or placebo for up to 52 weeks. Corticosteroid use was permitted; tapering was recommended from Week 12. Efficacy was assessed at Weeks 12 and 52 in ELEVATE UC 52, and Week 12 in ELEVATE UC 12, in patients in the corticosteroid (CS) and no-CS subgroups. CS-free efficacy at Week 52 was assessed in patients with baseline CS use., Results: In ELEVATE UC 52 and ELEVATE UC 12, 93/289 (32.2%) and 65/238 (27.3%) patients receiving etrasimod and 42/144 (29.2%) and 34/116 (29.3%) patients receiving placebo, respectively, had concomitant CS use at baseline. In the CS and no-CS subgroups, higher proportions of patients who received etrasimod vs placebo achieved clinical remission (p < 0.05) in ELEVATE UC 52 at Weeks 12 (CS: 32.3% vs 16.7%; no-CS: 26.0% vs 4.9%) and 52 (CS: 31.2% vs 9.5%; no-CS: 33.2% vs 6.9%). In the CS subgroup, significantly more patients receiving etrasimod than placebo achieved CS-free clinical remission at Week 52 (31.2% vs 7.1%). No increases in infection rates were observed with baseline CS use. Safety was comparable between subgroups., Conclusions: Etrasimod demonstrated efficacy in inducing and maintaining remission in both subgroups. CSfree remission was achieved in the CS subgroup. Safety was consistent, with no increase in infections., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of European Crohn’s and Colitis Organisation.)

Background and Aims: Pivotal trials in ulcerative colitis have historically excluded patients with isolated proctitis. Etrasimod is an oral, once-daily, selective sphingosine 1-phosphate1,4,5 receptor modulator for the treatment of moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis. This post hoc analysis assessed efficacy and safety of etrasimod 2 mg once daily in patients with isolated proctitis (centrally read) from the phase 3 ELEVATE UC 52 and ELEVATE UC 12 trials., Methods: Patients, including those with isolated proctitis (<10 cm rectal involvement) who met all other inclusion criteria in ELEVATE UC 52 and ELEVATE UC 12, were randomised 2:1 to receive etrasimod or placebo. Primary, secondary and other identified efficacy endpoints and safety were assessed., Results: We analysed data from 64 and 723 patients at Week 12 (both trials pooled), and 36 and 397 patients at Week 52 (ELEVATE UC 52 only) with isolated proctitis and more extensive colitis (≥10 cm rectal involvement), respectively. Patients with isolated proctitis receiving etrasimod demonstrated significant improvements versus placebo, including clinical remission rates at Weeks 12 (42.9% vs 13.6%) and 52 (44.4% vs 11.1%), endoscopic improvement (52.4% vs 22.7%) at Week 12 and bowel urgency numerical rating scale score at Week 12 (all p < 0.01). Generally similar trends were observed in patients with more extensive colitis. Safety was consistent across subgroups, with no new findings., Conclusions: Etrasimod demonstrated significant improvements versus placebo in patients with isolated proctitis, and those with more extensive disease, in most efficacy endpoints at Week 12 and 52. Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT03945188; NCT03996369., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of European Crohn’s and Colitis Organisation.)

Background & Aims: Histologic remission, a potentially important treatment target in ulcerative colitis (UC), is associated with favorable long-term outcomes. Etrasimod is an oral, once-daily, selective sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) 1,4,5 receptor modulator for the treatment of moderately to severely active UC. This post-hoc analysis of the ELEVATE UC program evaluated the efficacy of etrasimod according to histologic and composite (histologic/endoscopic/symptomatic) endpoints and examined their prognostic value., Methods: Patients with moderately to severely active UC were randomized 2:1 to once-daily oral etrasimod 2 mg or placebo. Histologic and composite endpoints, including disease clearance (endoscopic/histologic/symptomatic remission), were assessed at Weeks 12 (ELEVATE UC 52; ELEVATE UC 12) and 52 (ELEVATE UC 52). Logistic regressions examined associations between baseline and Week 12 histologic/composite endpoints and Week 52 outcomes., Results: At Weeks 12 and 52, significant improvements with etrasimod vs placebo were observed in histologic/composite outcomes, including endoscopic improvement-histologic remission and disease clearance. The proportion of patients treated with etrasimod achieving clinical remission at Week 52 was higher among those with disease clearance at Week 12 vs those without disease clearance (73.9% [17/23] vs 28.3% [71/251]). Histologic improvement and endoscopic improvement at Week 12 were moderately and strongly associated with clinical remission at Week 52 (odds ratio [OR], 2.37; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.27-4.41; and OR, 6.36; 95% CI, 3.47-11.64, respectively). Histologic remission and endoscopic improvement at Week 12 were strongly associated with endoscopic improvement-histologic remission at Week 52 (OR, 3.21; 95% CI, 1.70-6.06 and OR, 5.47; 95% CI, 2.89-10.36, respectively)., Conclusions: Etrasimod was superior to placebo for achievement of stringent histologic and composite endpoints., Clinicaltrials: gov, Number: NCT03945188; ClinicalTrials.gov, Number: NCT03996369., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background and Aims: Ontamalimab is a fully human immunoglobulin G2 monoclonal antibody against mucosal addressin cell adhesion molecule-1, developed as treatment for inflammatory bowel disease., Methods: Six phase 3, multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials compared efficacy and safety of ontamalimab [25 mg and 75 mg once every 4 weeks] with placebo in patients with moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease [two induction studies and one re-randomised maintenance study per condition]. This clinical trial programme was discontinued in 2020 for reasons unrelated to drug safety/efficacy; Crohn's disease studies are described in the Supplementary data., Results: The induction [12-week] and maintenance [52-week] studies included 659 and 366 randomised patients, respectively. More patients who received ontamalimab induction than placebo achieved the primary endpoint of clinical remission at Week 12 [25 mg, 18.5% vs 15.8%, p = 0.617, 27.0% vs 12.5%, p = 0.027; 75 mg, 29.8% vs 15.8%, p = 0.018, 29.5% vs 12.5% p = 0.014]; significantly more patients who received ontamalimab maintenance therapy than placebo achieved Week 52 clinical remission [25 mg, 53.5% vs 8.2%, p <0.001; 75 mg, 40.2% vs 12.8%, p <0.001]. Endoscopic improvement was generally significantly different vs placebo [induction: 25 mg, 27.8% vs 21.1%, p = 0.253, 35.1% vs 12.5%, p = 0.001; 75 mg, 41.1% vs 21.1%, p = 0.002, 33.9% vs 12.5%, p = 0.003; maintenance: 25 mg, 56.3% vs 9.6%, p <0.001; 75 mg, 48.8% vs 15.1%, p <0.001]. Adverse event rates were similar between ontamalimab and placebo groups., Conclusions: Ontamalimab 75 mg was effective, with no safety concerns, as induction and maintenance therapy for patients with moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis. [NCT03259334; NCT03259308; NCT03290781; NCT03559517; NCT03566823; NCT03627091]., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of European Crohn’s and Colitis Organisation.)

Background: Etrasimod, a once-daily, oral, sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) receptor modulator that selectively activates S1P receptor subtypes 1, 4, and 5, with no detectable activity on S1P 2,3 , is in development for the treatment of immune-mediated diseases, including ulcerative colitis. In these two phase 3 trials, we aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of etrasimod in adult patients with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis., Methods: In two independent randomised, multicentre, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trials, ELEVATE UC 52 and ELEVATE UC 12, adults with active moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis and an inadequate or loss of response or intolerance to at least one approved ulcerative colitis therapy were randomly assigned (2:1) to once-daily oral etrasimod 2 mg or placebo. Patients in ELEVATE UC 52 were enrolled from 315 centres in 40 countries. Patients in ELEVATE UC 12 were enrolled from 407 centres in 37 countries. Randomisation was stratified by previous exposure to biologicals or Janus kinase inhibitor therapy (yes vs no), baseline corticosteroid use (yes vs no), and baseline disease activity (modified Mayo score [MMS]; 4-6 vs 7-9). ELEVATE UC 52 comprised a 12-week induction period followed by a 40-week maintenance period with a treat-through design. ELEVATE UC 12 independently assessed induction at week 12. The primary efficacy endpoints were the proportion of patients with clinical remission at weeks 12 and 52 in ELEVATE UC 52 and week 12 in ELEVATE UC 12. Safety was evaluated in both trials. ELEVATE UC 52 and ELEVATE UC 12 were registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03945188 and NCT03996369, respectively., Findings: Patients in ELEVATE UC 52 were enrolled between June 13, 2019, and Jan 28, 2021. Patients in ELEVATE UC 12 were enrolled between Sept 15, 2020, and Aug 12, 2021. ELEVATE UC 52 and ELEVATE UC 12 screened 821 patients and 606 patients, respectively, with 433 and 354 subsequently undergoing random assignment. The full analysis set of ELEVATE UC 52 comprised 289 patients assigned to etrasimod and 144 to placebo. In ELEVATE UC 12, 238 patients were assigned to etrasimod and 116 to placebo. In ELEVATE UC 52, a significantly greater proportion of patients in the etrasimod group achieved clinical remission compared with patients in the placebo group at completion of the 12-week induction period (74 [27%] of 274 patients vs ten [7%] of 135 patients; p<0·0001) and at week 52 (88 [32%] of 274 patients vs nine [7%] of 135 patients; p<0·0001). In ELEVATE UC 12, 55 (25%) of 222 patients in the etrasimod group had clinical remission compared with 17 (15%) of 112 patients in the placebo group at the end of the 12-week induction period (p=0·026). Adverse events were reported in 206 (71%) of 289 patients in the etrasimod group and 81 (56%) of 144 patients in the placebo group in ELEVATE UC 52 and 112 (47%) of 238 patients in the etrasimod group and 54 (47%) of 116 patients in the placebo group in ELEVATE UC 12. No deaths or malignancies were reported., Interpretation: Etrasimod was effective and well tolerated as an induction and maintenance therapy in patients with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis. Etrasimod is a treatment option with a unique combination of attributes that might address the persistent unmet needs of patients with ulcerative colitis., Funding: Arena Pharmaceuticals., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests WJS reports research grants from AbbVie, Abivax, Arena Pharmaceuticals, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Genentech, Gilead Sciences, GSK, Janssen, Lilly, Pfizer, Prometheus Laboratories, Seres Therapeutics, Shire Pharmaceuticals, Takeda, and Theravance Biopharma; consulting fees from AbbVie, Abivax, Alfasigma, Alimentiv (previously Robarts Clinical Trials, owned by Alimentiv Health Trust), Allakos, Amgen, Arena Pharmaceuticals, AstraZeneca, Atlantic Pharmaceuticals, BeiGene, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celltrion, ClostraBio, Forbion, Galapagos, Genentech (Roche), GSK, Gossamer Bio, Index Pharmaceuticals, Iota Biosciences, Janssen, Lilly, Morphic Therapeutics, Novartis, Oppilan Pharma (now Ventyx Biosciences), Pfizer, Pharm Olam, Polpharma, Progenity, Prometheus Biosciences, Protagonist Therapeutics, PTM Therapeutics, Seres Therapeutics, Shoreline Biosciences, Sublimity Therapeutics, Surrozen, Takeda, Theravance Biopharma, Vedanta Biosciences, Ventyx Biosciences, Vimalan Biosciences, Vivreon Gastrosciences, Xencor, and Zealand Pharmaceuticals; stock or stock options from Allakos, BeiGene, Gossamer Bio, Oppilan Pharma (now Ventyx Biosciences), Progenity, Prometheus Biosciences, Prometheus Laboratories, Protagonists Therapeutics, Shoreline Biosciences, Ventyx Biosciences, Vimalan Biosciences, and Vivreon Gastrosciences; and is Chief Medical Officer at Ventyx Biosciences. SV reports grants from AbbVie, J&J, Pfizer, Galapagos, and Takeda; and has received consulting or speaking fees from AbbVie, AbolerIS Pharma, AgomAb, Alimentiv, Arena Pharmaceuticals, AstraZeneca, Avaxia, Bristol Myers Squibb, Boehringer Ingelheim, Celgene, CVasThera, Dr Falk Pharma, Ferring, Galapagos, Genentech-Roche, Gilead, GSK, Hospira, IMIDomics, Janssen, J&J, Lilly, Materia Prima, MiroBio, Morphic, MRM Health, Mundipharma, MSD, Pfizer, ProDigest, Progenity, Prometheus, Robarts Clinical Trials, Second Genome, Shire, Surrozen, Takeda, Theravance, Tillotts Pharma AG, and Zealand Pharma. LP-B reports consulting fees from AbbVie, Alimentiv, Alma Bio Therapeutics, Amgen, Applied Molecular Transport, Arena, Biogen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celltrion, Connect Biopharma, Cytoki Pharma, Enthera, Ferring, Fresenius Kabi, Galapagos, Genentech, Gilead, Gossamer Bio, GSK, HAC-Pharma, IAG Image Analysis, Index Pharmaceuticals, Inotrem, Janssen, Lilly, Medac, Mopac, Morphic, MSD, Norgine, Novartis, OM Pharma, ONO Pharma, OSE Immunotherapeutics, Pandion Therapeutics, Pfizer, Prometheus, Protagonist, Roche, Sandoz, Takeda, Theravance, Thermo Fisher, TiGenix, Tillotts, Viatris, Vifor, Ysopia, and Abivax; grants from Takeda, Fresenius Kabi, and Celltrion; and lecture or speaker fees from Galapagos, AbbVie, Janssen, Genentech, Ferring, Tillotts, Celltrion, Takeda, Pfizer, Sandoz, Biogen, MSD, Amgen, Vifor, Arena, Lilly, Gilead, Viatris, and Medac. MCD reports consulting fees from AbbVie, Arena, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Genentech, Gilead, Janssen, Pfizer, Prometheus Labs, and Takeda; and is founder and a shareholder of Trellus Health. JP reports consulting fees from AbbVie, Arena Pharmaceuticals, Athos, Boehringer Ingelheim, Celgene, Celltrion, Ferring, Genentech, GSK, Janssen, Mirum, Morphic, Nestle, Origo, Pandion, Progenity, Pfizer, Revolo, Robarts, Roche, Takeda, Theravance, and Wassermann; speaker fees from AbbVie, Biogen, Ferring, Janssen, Pfizer, and Takeda; and research funding from AbbVie and Pfizer. AY reports consulting fees from Takeda, Prometheus Labs, Arena Pharmaceuticals, and Bristol Myers Squibb; and speaker bureau fees from Bristol Myers Squibb. TR served on advisory boards or speaker panels for Gilead, AbbVie, Arena Pharmaceuticals, Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Genentech, Gossamer, Intercept, Janssen, Eli Lilly, Pfizer, Prometheus, and Takeda. FB reports grant or research support from AbbVie, Amgen, Janssen, and Takeda; honoraria from AbbVie, Amgen, Arena Pharmaceuticals, Celgene, Celltrion, Ferring, Fresenius Kabi, Janssen, MSD, Pfizer, Sandoz, and Takeda; and was on speakers bureaus for AbbVie, Arena Pharmaceuticals, Ferring, Galapagos, Janssen, MSD, Pfizer, and Takeda. SSc has been a consultant for AbbVie, Amgen, Arena Pharmaceuticals, Bristol Myers Squibb, Boehringer Ingelheim, Celltrion, Dr Falk Pharma, Ferring, Fresenius, Galapagos, Genentech, GSK, Gilead, I-MAB Biopharma, Janssen, Lilly, Merck, Novartis-Sandoz, Pfizer, Protagonist, Takeda, and Theravance. FC was a previous employee and stockholder of Arena Pharmaceuticals at the time of research. SSl, KS, CJR, and MG are employees and stockholders of Arena Pharmaceuticals, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pfizer Inc. MC has been a speaker for AbbVie, Janssen, Medtronic, Pfizer, Bristol Myers Squibb, and Takeda; and has served as a consultant for AbbVie, Arena Pharmaceuticals, Bristol Myers Squibb, Medtronic, Pfizer, Lilly, Prometheus, and Takeda. DCW has received consulting or speaker honoraria from AbbVie, Arena Pharmaceuticals, Bristol Myers Squibb, Janssen, Lilly, Pfizer, and Takeda. BES reports consulting fees from Abivax, Amgen, Arena Pharmaceuticals, Artugen Therapeutics, AstraZeneca, Bacainn Therapeutics, Boehringer Ingelheim, Boston Pharmaceuticals, Bristol Myers Squibb, Calibr, Celltrion Healthcare, ClostraBio, Entera, Evommune, Galapagos, Genentech, Gilead Sciences, GSK, Gossamer Bio, Index Pharmaceuticals, Inotrem, Innovation Therapeutics, Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Janssen, Kaleido, Kallyope, Lilly, Miro Bio, Morphic Therapeutics, MRM Health, Pfizer, Progenity, Prometheus Biosciences, Protagonist Therapeutics, Q32 Bio, Surrozen, Takeda, Teva, TLL Pharmaceutical, USWM Enterprises, and Viela Bio; speaking fees from Abivax, Bristol Myers Squibb, Janssen, Pfizer, and Takeda; and grant or research support from Janssen. GD has been a consultant for AbbVie, AgomAb, AstraZeneca, AM Pharma, AMT, Arena Pharmaceuticals, Bristol Myers Squibb, Boehringer Ingelheim, Celltrion, Eli Lilly, Exeliom Biosciences, Exo Biologics, Galapagos, Index Pharmaceuticals, Kaleido, Roche, Gilead, GSK, Gossamer Bio, Pfizer, Immunic, J&J, Origo, Polpharma, Procise Diagnostics, Prometheus Laboratories, Prometheus Biosciences, Progenity, and Protagonist; and has received speakers bureau fees from AbbVie, Arena Pharmaceuticals, Galapagos, Gilead, Pfizer, Bristol Myers Squibb, and Takeda. SD reports consultancy fees from AbbVie, Alimentiv, Allergan, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Athos Therapeutics, Biogen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Celgene, Celltrion, Dr Falk Pharma, Eli Lilly, Enthera, Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Gilead, Hospira, Inotrem, J&J, MSD, Mundipharma, Mylan, Pfizer, Roche, Sandoz, Sublimity Therapeutics, Takeda, TiGenix, UCB, and Vifor; and payment for expert testimony from AbbVie, Amgen, Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Gilead, Janssen, Mylan, Pfizer, and Takeda. BGF has been a consultant for AbbVie, Admirx, AgomAb Therapeutics, Applied Molecular Transport, Arena Pharmaceuticals, Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly, Ferring, Galapagos, Galen Atlantica, Genentech-Roche, Gilead, Gossamer Pharma, GSK, F Hoffmann-La Roche, Janssen, Morphic Therapeutics, OM Pharma, Pandion Therapeutics, Pfizer, Prometheus Therapeutics and Diagnostics, Progenity, Sanofi, Seres Therapeutics, Surrozen, Takeda, Theravance, TiGenix, Tillotts, and Zealand Pharma; has received speaker bureau fees from AbbVie, Janssen, and Takeda; served on the scientific advisory board for AbbVie, Amgen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Celgene, Bristol Myers Squibb, Genentech, Roche, Janssen, Novartis, Origo BioPharma, Pfizer, Prometheus, Takeda, Tillotts Pharma, Teva, Progenity, Index, and GSK; is a stockholder of Gossamer Pharma; and is an employee of Western University and Alimentiv., (Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 license. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background and Aims: Ontamalimab, a fully-human monoclonal antibody targeting MAdCAM-1, induced remission in patients with moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis [UC] in the TURANDOT study. We aimed to assess long-term safety, tolerability, and efficacy of ontamalimab in TURANDOT II., Methods: TURANDOT II was a phase 2, multicentre, open-label [OL] study in patients with moderate-to-severe UC who completed TURANDOT on placebo or ontamalimab (NCT01771809). Patients were randomised to 75 mg or 225 mg ontamalimab every 4 weeks for 72 weeks [OL1]. The dosage could be increased to 225 mg from Week 8 at the investigator's discretion. All patients then received 75 mg every 4 weeks for 72 weeks [OL2], followed by 6-month safety follow-up. The primary objective was safety, measured by adverse events [AEs], serious AEs [SAEs], and AEs leading to withdrawal. Mucosal healing [MH; centrally read endoscopy] was assessed., Results: Of 330 patients, 180 completed OL1; 94 escalated to 225 mg; 127 completed OL2. Overall, 36.1% experienced drug-related AEs. The most common SAE [10.0%] was worsening/ongoing UC; 5.5% of patients had serious infections, the most common being gastroenteritis [0.9%]. One death and four cancers [all unrelated to ontamalimab] occurred. No PML [progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy]/lymphoproliferative disorders occurred. Geometric mean high-sensitivity C-reactive protein [hsCRP] and faecal calprotectin decreased across OL1 in both dose groups. The proportion of patients assigned to placebo in TURANDOT achieving MH increased from 8.8% [6/68] at baseline to 35.3% at Week 16 [24/68; non-responder imputation]. The corresponding increase in the ontamalimab group was from 23.3% [61/262] to 26.7% [70/262]., Conclusions: Ontamalimab was well tolerated up to 144 weeks in patients with moderate-to-severe UC, with good safety and efficacy., (© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of European Crohn’s and Colitis Organisation.)

Lifelong noninvasive rejection monitoring in heart transplant patients is a critical clinical need historically poorly met in adults and unavailable for children and infants. Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) donor-specific fraction (DF), a direct marker of selective donor organ injury, is a promising analytical target. Methodological differences in sample processing and DF determination profoundly affect quality and sensitivity of cfDNA analyses, requiring specialized optimization for low cfDNA levels typical of transplant patients. Using next-generation sequencing, we previously correlated elevated DF with acute cellular and antibody-mediated rejection (ACR and AMR) in pediatric and adult heart transplant patients. However, next-generation sequencing is limited by cost, TAT, and sensitivity, leading us to clinically validate a rapid, highly sensitive, quantitative genotyping test, myTAIHEART®, addressing these limitations. To assure pre-analytical quality and consider interrelated cfDNA measures, plasma preparation was optimized and total cfDNA (TCF) concentration, DNA fragmentation, and DF quantification were validated in parallel for integration into myTAIHEART reporting. Analytical validations employed individual and reconstructed mixtures of human blood-derived genomic DNA (gDNA), cfDNA, and gDNA sheared to apoptotic length. Precision, linearity, and limits of blank/detection/quantification were established for TCF concentration, DNA fragmentation ratio, and DF determinations. For DF, multiplexed high-fidelity amplification followed by quantitative genotyping of 94 SNP targets was applied to 1168 samples to evaluate donor options in staged simulations, demonstrating DF call equivalency with/without donor genotype. Clinical validation studies using 158 matched endomyocardial biopsy-plasma pairs from 76 pediatric and adult heart transplant recipients selected a DF cutoff (0.32%) producing 100% NPV for ≥2R ACR. This supports the assay's conservative intended use of stratifying low versus increased probability of ≥2R ACR. myTAIHEART is clinically validated for heart transplant recipients ≥2 months old and ≥8 days post-transplant, expanding opportunity for noninvasive transplant rejection assessment to infants and children and to all recipients >1 week post-transplant., Competing Interests: I have read the journal's policy and the authors of this manuscript have the following competing interests: PEN, MEM, and AT-M are full time employees and Professors of the Medical College of Wisconsin. PEN is Medical Director of the TAI Diagnostics Clinical Reference Laboratory and its Chief Laboratory Officer. MEM and AT-M are Co-Founders of TAI Diagnostics, Inc. PEN, MEM, AT-M, EZ, DKM, KDS, AT, PD, MAB, AV, MG, HL and CR have stock options at TAI Diagnostics. Multiple relevant patent applications from which authors could benefit are pending. Those patent numbers are PCT/US2013/037439, PCT/US2016/030313, PCT/US2017/030291, PCT/US2017/030292, PCT/US2017/030293, PCT/US2017/059808, PCT/US2017/059802, PCT/US2019/031860, PCT/US2018/038598, PCT/US2018/038604, PCT/US2018/038609, PCT/US2018/000278, and PCT/US2018/065845. This does not alter our adherence to PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials.

Objective: The aim of the study was to document treatment-seeking experiences of women with chronic vulvar pain, comfort communicating about pain, and test the clinical utility of the screening version of the Vulvar Pain Assessment Questionnaire, screening version (VPAQscreen)., Materials and Methods: Patients scheduled for an appointment with the Program in Vulvar Health at Oregon Health and Science University were invited to complete the VPAQscreen and answer descriptive questions about previous treatment-seeking experiences and communication with health care providers. Clinicians provided provisional diagnoses based on VPAQscreen summaries, final diagnoses based on gynecological examination, and commented on alignment with clinical observations. Patients gave feedback on the accuracy and helpfulness of the VPAQscreen summary, characteristics of the questions asked, and whether their comfort communicating increased., Results: Participants reported previously seeing approximately 5 medical doctors and 2 other health care providers and perceived them as lacking knowledge of vulvar pain syndromes. Providers indicated that VPAQscreen summaries aligned with clinical presentations and suggested provisional diagnoses with more than 80% accuracy. Participants reported that VPAQscreen summaries were helpful and accurate in summarizing symptoms. Most reported that the number, range, and readability of VPAQscreen questions were good or excellent. More than half reported that completing the VPAQscreen increased comfort when speaking with their Oregon Health and Science University physician., Conclusions: Patients with vulvar pain often endure a lengthy process of consulting multiple clinicians before securing care. The VPAQscreen was more than 80% accurate in predicting diagnosis at this specialty clinic and was useful in assisting patients with expressing symptoms. The applicability of the VPAQscreen in general practice is unknown, although it shows promise.

Xenorhabdus nematophila are Gram-negative bacteria that engage in mutualistic associations with entomopathogenic nematodes. To reproduce, the nematodes invade insects and release X. nematophila into the haemolymph where it functions as an insect pathogen. In complex medium, X. nematophila cells produce two distinct types of intracellular crystalline inclusions, one composed of the methionine-rich PixA protein and the other composed of the PixB protein. Here we show that PixB crystalline inclusions were neither apparent in X. nematophila cells grown in medium that mimics insect haemolymph (Grace's medium) nor in cells grown directly in the insect haemocoel. The identified pixB gene was regulated by a conserved σ70 promoter while the pixA promoter was less well conserved. Expression of pixA and pixB under biological conditions was analysed using GFP promoter reporters. Microplate fluorescence detection and flow cytometry analyses revealed that pixB was expressed at high levels in Grace's medium and in insect haemolymph and at lower levels in complex medium, while pixA was expressed at lower levels under all conditions. Although pixB was highly expressed in Grace's medium, PixB crystalline inclusions were not present, suggesting that under biological conditions PixB production may be controlled post-transcriptionally. Although a pixB-minus strain was constructed, the function of PixB remains unresolved. The pixB gene was present in few Xenorhabdus species and pixB-type genes were identified in some Proteobacteria and Gram-positive species, while pixA was only present in Xenorhabdus species. Two conserved sequences were identified in PixB-type proteins that characterize this previously unrecognized gene family.

Diabetes mellitus is a growing concern worldwide and leads to multiple complications during pregnancy. Pharmacologic doses of chromium (Cr) have been linked with improving insulin sensitivity and other positive benefits in the treatment of diabetes in animal models. By using streptozotocin induced hyperglycemia in female CD-1 mice, reproductive outcomes of diabetic and chromium-dosed diabetic females were examined. After dosing 10 mg/kg Cr in the form of triaqua-μ3 -oxo-hexa-μ-propionatotrichromium(III) chloride or Cr3 during gestation days 8-16 (GD8-GD16), all females were sacrificed on gestation day 17 (GD17) and examined for maternal weight gain. The fetuses were examined for gross malformations and for skeletal malformations. The offspring of Cr3-dosed females tended to have a reduction in the incidence of supernumerary ribs. While hyperglycemia still had negative impacts on the health of dams and their offspring, administration of Cr led to an apparent trend in the reduction in the number of malformations and incidence of supernumerary ribs compared to those of untreated diabetic mothers., (© 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)