India Pharma Outlook Team | Wednesday, 07 May 2025
Johnson & Johnson announced compelling results from the phase 3 QUASAR long-term extension (LTE) study of Tremfya (guselkumab) in adults with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis (UC). Presented at Digestive Disease Week (DDW) 2025, the data highlight Tremfya’s sustained efficacy and safety, reinforcing its role in transforming UC care.
After 92 weeks, 72% of patients were in remission, meaning their symptoms were finally under control, and nearly all of them—99%—didn’t need steroids for at least eight weeks. Plus, 43% had healthier-looking colons, and 84% of those who saw improvement by Week 44 kept it going through Week 92. The best part? Tremfya worked well even for people who’d tried other treatments like biologics or JAK inhibitors without success. And it stayed safe, with no new side effects to worry about.
“These results give real hope to people with UC,” said Gary R. Lichtenstein, a top gastroenterologist at the University of Pennsylvania. “It’s amazing to see a treatment that keeps symptoms at bay for so long.”
Tremfya stands out as the first approved medicine that tackles IL-23 and binds to CD64, fighting inflammation in a unique way. It was approved for UC by the FDA in September 2024, and last November, Johnson & Johnson asked for approval to make it easier to start treatment with a shot instead of an IV. It’s also been approved for Crohn’s disease since March 2025. The QUASAR study focused on people who hadn’t had luck with other therapies, proving Tremfya’s strength.
“We’re so excited to see Tremfya making life better for people with UC,” said Esi Lamousé-Smith, MD, PhD, a leader at Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine.
Ulcerative colitis is a tough condition, causing painful inflammation in the colon and symptoms like diarrhea, bleeding, and fatigue. Tremfya, also used for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, is changing lives worldwide, and Johnson & Johnson is proud to lead the charge.