title: The role of vedolizumab in patients with moderate-to-severe Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
abstract: Vedolizumab, an α4β7-integrin antagonist, is the first gut-selective monoclonal antibody that has been approved for the treatment of moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease in many countries in the world. However, questions still remain regarding its appropriate use and placement in current treatment algorithms. Therefore, we sought out to evaluate the existing literature on the use of vedolizumab in inflammatory bowel disease. From inception to 21 June 2015 we searched MEDLINE for phase III randomized control trials assessing the utility of vedolizumab in inflammatory bowel disease, of which three were identified. The GEMINI trials demonstrate that vedolizumab is an effective and safe treatment for patients suffering from moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis (GEMINI I) and Crohn's disease (GEMINI II and III). However, further studies are needed comparing its efficacy directly with anti-tumor necrosis factor therapies to allow for further delineation of current treatment algorithms as well as ensuring its long-term safety profile.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
authors.forename: Neal
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shahidi
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bressler
authors.affiliation: Inflammatory Bowel Disease Unit, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Calgary, Room 6D32, TRW Building, 3280 Hospital Drive Northwest, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada.
authors.forename: Remo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Panaccione
keywords: IBD; inflammatory bowel disease; integrins