By VETTAPHARMA reporter: — February 18, 2026 — Sanofi and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries today announced positive long-term results from the RELIEVE UCCD long-term extension (LTE) phase 2b study of duvakitug, an investigational human monoclonal antibody targeting TL1A, in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD). The data show durable clinical and endoscopic efficacy maintained over 44 weeks in patients who initially responded to the drug following induction therapy.
The RELIEVE UCCD LTE study enrolled 130 patients who had responded to duvakitug in the phase 2b induction portion and entered a 44-week maintenance period. During this period, patients were re-randomized to receive either 450 mg or 900 mg of subcutaneous duvakitug every four weeks, contributing to a total of up to 58 weeks of exposure. At week 44 of maintenance:
- In UC patients, 58 % (900 mg) and 47 % (450 mg) achieved the primary endpoint of clinical remission (mMS).
- In CD patients, 55 % (900 mg) and 41 % (450 mg) achieved the endoscopic response (SES-CD).
Consistent benefits were observed across additional efficacy measures in both UC and CD cohorts.
Both doses of duvakitug were well tolerated, with the most common adverse events—including upper respiratory tract infection, nasopharyngitis, Crohn’s disease flare and hypertension—mirroring safety findings from the induction study.
Pipeline and Strategic Collaboration
Duvakitug, co-developed by Sanofi and Teva under a global collaboration, continues to advance in ongoing phase 3 clinical programs for UC and CD. TL1A inhibition represents a promising approach in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) by potentially reducing chronic GI inflammation and tissue damage.
Sanofi’s Executive Vice President, Head of R&D, Houman Ashrafian, described the long-term results as reinforcing duvakitug’s potential as an important therapy for patients with IBD and a key opportunity within Sanofi’s immunology pipeline. Teva’s Executive Vice President and CMO, Eric Hughes, MD, PhD, noted that the durable outcomes support further exploration of additional indications later this year.
About IBD and Future Prospects
Inflammatory bowel disease is an autoimmune condition affecting millions globally, characterized by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract and marked by cycles of remission and relapse. There is currently no cure, and the long-term management of UC and CD remains a high unmet medical need.
The favorable long-term efficacy and tolerability data build on earlier findings from the RELIEVE UCCD induction study, highlighting duvakitug’s potential to deliver sustained benefits for patients with moderate-to-severe IBD.
Source credit:
- Sanofi. (2026, February 17). Sanofi and Teva’s duvakitug phase 2b maintenance data demonstrated clinically meaningful durable efficacy in ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Sanofi Media Room. Click here
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