J Crohns Colitis. 2022 May 11;16(Supplement_2):ii64-ii72.doi: 10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjab185.

Tommaso Lorenzo Parigi ^1 2, Marietta Iacucci ¹, Subrata Ghosh ³

Author information

¹Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy NIHR Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.

²Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy.

³APC Microbiome Ireland Centre, College of Medicine and Health, University College Cork, Ireland.

Abstract

Interleukin 23 [IL-23] plays a key role in the pathogenesis of both Crohn's disease [CD] and ulcerative colitis [UC], promoting a Th17 cell-related immune response. The combined blockade of IL-23 and IL-12 with ustekinumab has been demonstrated to be safe and effective in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease [IBD]. Studies on preclinical models and observations of other immune-mediated diseases, such as psoriasis, suggest that the selective inhibition of IL-23 could be beneficial in IBD. Four monoclonal antibodies [risankizumab, mirikizumab, brazikumab and guselkumab] are currently in advance clinical trials for either CD or UC. In this review, we provide an overview of the main results from published studies of selective anti IL-23 agents.