Teva Pharmaceuticals and Sanofi have announced new results from an ongoing trial of an experimental medicine called duvakitug, used in people with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease. The companies reported that improvements seen earlier in the study were still present after 44 weeks of treatment. The findings may be relevant to people living with these inflammatory bowel conditions, as new treatment options remain an important area of research.
Background
Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease are long-term conditions that cause inflammation in the gut, leading to symptoms such as diarrhoea, abdominal pain, and tiredness. Many people rely on medicines, including biologic treatments, to help control inflammation and keep symptoms manageable. Researchers continue to look for new options, particularly for people whose symptoms do not respond well to existing treatments.
Duvakitug is a biologic medicine still being studied in clinical trials. It has not yet been reviewed or approved by any regulatory authority, and its safety and effectiveness have not been formally confirmed outside of research settings.
What the companies reported
The data come from a long-term extension of a mid-stage trial known as RELIEVE UCCD, which has been following people with ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease who had already completed an earlier phase of treatment with duvakitug.
Ulcerative colitis
According to the companies, people with ulcerative colitis who continued treatment maintained high rates of remission, meaning their symptoms were well controlled, by week 44. The companies also reported continued improvement in how the gut lining appeared on examination, alongside sustained clinical response, which refers to a meaningful reduction in symptoms.
Crohn’s disease
In people with Crohn’s disease, the companies said similar patterns were seen. High rates of improvement in the appearance of the gut lining, along with sustained symptom response and remission, were maintained through week 44 of treatment.
Why this matters
For people living with ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease, sustained improvement over time is an important consideration, as some treatments can lose effectiveness the longer they are used. The companies suggest these results indicate that the benefits of duvakitug may be maintained with continued treatment, though this is based on company-reported data from an ongoing study rather than an independent, peer-reviewed publication.
Sanofi and Teva are working together to develop duvakitug further, including for ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, a more severe form of Crohn’s disease involving narrowing of the bowel, and a separate skin condition called hidradenitis suppurativa.
What to keep in mind
These results have been announced directly by the companies involved and have not yet been published in a peer-reviewed medical journal, so they have not undergone independent scientific review. The trial is still ongoing, and longer-term safety and effectiveness will need further confirmation through continued research and, eventually, regulatory assessment.
People with ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease should not make any changes to their current treatment based on this announcement. Anyone with questions about their condition or treatment options should speak with their own gastroenterologist or healthcare team.
Reference
Teva Pharmaceuticals and Sanofi. Duvakitug maintains meaningful efficacy improvements in long-term extension study of the RELIEVE UCCD phase 2b trial. Company announcement, 20 October 2026. A peer-reviewed publication of these long-term extension results could not be identified at the time of writing.
This article is a journalistic summary for informational purposes only. It does not constitute clinical advice or a recommendation to alter treatment decisions.