Phase 3 success: Abivax (ABVX) hits 51% remission in UC trial
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Abivax reported positive Phase 3 ABTECT 44-week maintenance results for obefazimod, its once-daily oral miR-124 enhancer, in moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis. Among 580 induction responders, clinical remission at Week 44 reached 50.8% on 25 mg and 51.3% on 50 mg, versus 10.4% on placebo, with placebo-adjusted differences of 39.3% and 40.3% (p<0.0001 for both doses).
Both doses met all key secondary endpoints, including endoscopic improvement, endoscopic remission, HEMI, corticosteroid-free clinical remission and sustained clinical remission. Safety was generally favorable, with no deaths and similar rates of serious treatment-emergent adverse events to placebo. Abivax intends to submit a New Drug Application for obefazimod in ulcerative colitis in late fourth quarter 2026, while the ENHANCE-CD Phase 2b Crohn’s induction trial continues with topline data expected mid-2027.
Positive
- Landmark Phase 3 efficacy: Week 44 clinical remission reached 50.8% (25 mg) and 51.3% (50 mg) versus 10.4% on placebo, with placebo-adjusted differences of 39.3% and 40.3% (p<0.0001), and all key secondary endpoints were met.
- Regulatory path defined: Based on these maintenance data, Abivax plans to submit a New Drug Application for obefazimod in ulcerative colitis in late fourth quarter 2026, progressing the program toward potential commercialization.
Negative
- None.
Insights
Pivotal UC maintenance success supports NDA plans for obefazimod.
The Phase 3 ABTECT maintenance trial showed obefazimod 25 mg and 50 mg achieved placebo-adjusted clinical remission at Week 44 of 39.3% and 40.3% (p<0.0001). Absolute remission was 50.8% and 51.3% versus 10.4% on placebo, a substantial separation in a maintenance setting.
All key secondary endpoints, including endoscopic remission and HEMI, were met, indicating broad disease control. Safety data showed comparable serious treatment-emergent adverse event rates to placebo and no deaths, with low incidences of serious infections and malignancies reported across arms in this 44-week period.
Management plans a New Drug Application filing for obefazimod in ulcerative colitis in late Q4 2026, positioning this dataset as a core component of the regulatory package. The ongoing ENHANCE-CD Phase 2b induction trial, with topline data expected around mid-2027, will inform the drug’s potential in Crohn’s disease, adding another possible indication.