Ozanimod is currently in clinical development for adult patients with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis (UC). Ulcerative colitis is a long-term condition where the colon and rectum (parts of the bowel), become inflamed. Small ulcers can develop on the colon’s lining, which can cause rectal bleeding and recurring diarrhoea. The symptoms of ulcerative colitis often follow a pattern where individuals with the condition have periods of no symptoms or mild symptoms (remission) followed by periods where their symptoms are particularly troublesome (flare-ups or relapses).
Ozanimod, administered orally, is a new sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) receptor modulator. Treatment with S1P modulators is believed to work by interfering with signalling pathways that contribute to tissue inflammation. If licensed, ozanimod will offer an additional treatment option for adult patients with moderate to severe UC who have had an inadequate response, lost response to, or were intolerant to conventional therapy or a tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) antagonist. In one phase II clinical trial, ozanimod at a daily dose of 1mg resulted in a slightly higher rate of clinical remission of ulcerative colitis than placebo.