Ustekinumab for treating moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis in children aged 2 to 17 years

Ustekinumab is currently in clinical development for the treatment of moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis (UC) in paediatric patients. UC, a type of inflammatory bowel disease, is a long-term condition where the colon and rectum become inflamed and small ulcers can develop on the colon’s lining, which may bleed and produce pus. Symptoms of UC include recurring diarrhoea, which may contain blood, mucus or pus, stomach pain, a frequent need to empty the bowels, fatigue, loss of appetite and weight loss. The exact cause of UC is unknown, although it is thought to be the result of a problem with the immune system. There is a high unmet need for new safe and effective treatment options in UC in paediatric populations, especially new therapies that can provide improved long-term efficacy.