Background: Long-term data of certolizumab pegol (CZP) in Crohn's disease (CD) from pivotal registry trials are limited. We therefore aimed to evaluate the long-term efficacy of CZP in clinical practice in Switzerland. Methods: In the First Approved Certolizumab Therapeutic Experience in Switzerland-III phase IV multicenter cohort, patients receiving CZP were prospectively included all over Switzerland in (non-) academic hospitals and private practice. Results: We included 104 CD patients (52 male; only 22.1% anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) naïve, CZP as third anti-TNF agent in 46.2%) with follow-up time between 6 weeks up to 5 years. During treatment with CZP, we observed a significant decrease of the Harvey Bradshaw Index from a median of 7 at baseline (interquartile range 4-11) to 4, 5, 4, 3, 3, and 2 at weeks 6, 26, 52, 78, 104, and 156, respectively. While anti-TNF naïve patients showed a significantly better response at the end of induction, during CZP maintenance therapy response was similar as compared to anti-TNF experienced patients as well as between patients with a short (0-5 years) vs. long duration of disease (>5 years). Conclusions: CZP is an effective long-term treatment option, including CD patients with long disease duration and prior treatment with 1 or 2 anti-TNF agents.

Keywords:
Crohn’s disease, Anti-tumor necrosis factor, Certolizumab, Long-term efficacy, Real-life cohort
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2017
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