Vedolizumab disease clearance linked to fewer ulcerative colitis complications

Results from the phase 4 VERDICT trial indicate that patients with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis (UC) who achieve corticosteroid-free disease clearance using vedolizumab (Entyvio) face a 67% lower hazard of first UC-related complications compared to those who only achieve symptomatic remission.

Disease clearance in this study is defined as the combination of symptomatic, endoscopic, and histologic remission without the use of corticosteroids. The findings, presented at United European Gastroenterology (UEG) Week 2026 in Barcelona, suggest that a “treat-to-target” strategy may significantly alter the disease course.

The randomized trial, conducted by Alimentiv in collaboration with Takeda, involved 672 adults. Participants were assigned to one of three increasingly stringent treatment targets ranging from simple symptomatic remission to full disease clearance.