AbbVie presented new data across its gastroenterology portfolio at the 2026 DDW

AbbVie (ABBV) announced the presentation of new data across its gastroenterology portfolio at the 2026 Digestive Disease Week, or DDW, Annual Meeting, May 2-5 in Chicago. AbbVie will present 18 abstracts, including real-world evidence and long-term findings for SKYRIZI; or risankizumab-rzaa, and RINVOQ, or upadacitinib, in Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Real-World Data for Patients on Risankizumab in Crohn’s Disease includes: A 52-week follow-up of adults with moderately to severely active Crohn’s disease treated with risankizumab from the ASPIRE-CD study showed rapid and sustained improvements in abdominal pain, bowel urgency and liquid/soft stools. Among patients with extraintestinal manifestations of arthritis and skin conditions, 25% and 46%, respectively, reported experiencing relief at Week 52. By Week 52, the use of corticosteroids decreased from 34% at baseline to 7%, and over-the-counter therapies had decreased from 72% at baseline to 49%. In an analysis of health-related quality of life and treatment satisfaction after initiating risankizumab in patients enrolled in the ASPIRE-CD study, 77% reported improvement in life enjoyment by Week 52. In addition, patients had improved general wellbeing, including improved sexual health and improved work productivity and daily activity levels one year after starting risankizumab. Overall satisfaction with Crohn’s disease treatments improved among all patients, particularly patients who were still being treated with risankizumab at Week 52. Low Switch Rate for Risankizumab Among Crohn’s Disease Patients includes: A real-world study of US claims data analyzed the switch rates over a 24-month period among patients with Crohn’s disease initiating a new biologic therapy. It found the switch rate was 14% for risankizumab, compared with 21% for ustekinumab, 30% for vedolizumab, 33% for infliximab, and 36% for adalimumab. This pattern was also seen among biologic-naive patients. Lower Odds of Hospitalization Observed After Switch to Upadacitinib includes: Biologic dose-escalation vs. switching to upadacitinib in a real-world setting: A retrospective analysis of US claims data found that among patients with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis treated with a biologic therapy, patients who were switched to upadacitinib had a 31% lower odds of hospitalization and 26% lower odds of emergency department visits than those who increased average weekly dose of the biologic therapy. Endoscopic Improvements in Difficult-to-Treat Crohn’s Disease includes: Among patients with Perianal Fistulizing Crohn’s disease (PFCD), in two Phase 3 trials, those who responded to upadacitinib 45 mg were re-randomized to receive maintenance treatment with upadacitinib (15 mg or 30 mg) or placebo for 52 weeks. In this post-hoc analysis, upadacitinib-treated patients showed endoscopic improvements through 52 weeks, regardless of fistula response, as demonstrated by reductions in Simple Endoscopic Score for Crohn’s disease (SES-CD). Majority of these patients were without an adequate response to anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy.