Gastroenterology Month in Review: March 2025

March was a major month for gastroenterology, bringing a key US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval, clinical trial progress, and new guidance on colorectal cancer screening.

A 6-part HCPLive RX Review explored the latest US Multi-Society Task Force (USMSTF) recommendations on bowel prep before colonoscopy—timely guidance as March marks Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Meanwhile, the FDA approved guselkumab (Tremfya) for Crohn disease, expanding treatment options for patients with moderate to severe disease.

In ulcerative colitis (UC), the ANTHEM-UC trial showed promising results for icotrokinra (JNJ-2113), a novel oral IL-13 inhibitor. Additionally, new research linked celiac disease to a greater long-term risk of developing chronic liver disease, highlighting the complex interplay between gut and liver health.

Check out this March 2025 gastroenterology month in review for a recap of HCPLive’s coverage of the top GI news and research from the past few weeks:

Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

USMSTF Guidance on Optimizing Bowel Preparation for Colonoscopy

Colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of cancer-related death in the United States, highlighting the critical need for effective screening and prevention strategies.

Each March, Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month reinforces the importance of early detection in reducing the disease’s substantial burden. While colonoscopy remains the gold-standard screening method, its success hinges on proper bowel preparation. Poor preparation can result in missed lesions, longer procedures, and the need for repeat exams, ultimately reducing the procedure’s preventive effectiveness.

To address challenges related to bowel preparation, particularly in outpatients at low risk for inadequate prep, the USMSTF—comprising the American College of Gastroenterology, the American Gastroenterological Association, and the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy— issued new clinical recommendations, which guidance co-first authors Brian Jacobson, MD, MPH, and Joseph Anderson, MD, discuss in this 6-part HCPLive RX Review:

Part 1: Colonoscopy’s Role in CRC Screening, The Importance of Adequate Bowel Preparation

Part 2: Defining Adequate Bowel Preparation for Colonoscopy

Part 3: 2025 USMSTF Bowel Prep Guidance Updates

Part 4: Barriers, Challenges to Compliance with New Bowel Prep Guidance

Part 5: Areas for Future Bowel Preparation Research

Part 6: Key Concepts in the USMSTF Bowel Preparation Guidance

In the Pipeline, FDA News

ANTHEM-UC: Icotrokinra (JNJ-2113) Shows Promise for Ulcerative Colitis

On March 10, Johnson & Johnson announced positive topline results from the phase 2b ANTHEM-UC study of icotrokinra (JNJ-2113) in adults with moderately to severely active UC. The study met its primary endpoint of clinical response in all icotrokinra dose groups evaluated and demonstrated clinically meaningful differences versus placebo in key secondary endpoints of clinical remission, symptomatic remission and endoscopic improvement at week 12.

"These impressive findings show the potential of icotrokinra to transform the treatment paradigm for people living with ulcerative colitis by offering a distinctive combination of therapeutic benefit, tolerability, and convenience with a once-daily oral treatment," said Esi Lamousé-Smith, MD, PhD, vice president, gastroenterology disease area lead, Immunology, at Johnson & Johnson. "With over a quarter century of innovation in inflammatory bowel disease, coupled with our deep expertise in the IL-23 pathway, we are excited about these results and the groundbreaking potential of icotrokinra in the treatment of immune-mediated diseases."

FDA Approves Guselkumab (Tremfya) For Crohn Disease

Later in the month, on March 20, the FDA approved guselkumab (Tremfya) for the treatment of adults with moderately to severely active Crohn disease based on data from multiple phase 3 trials, including the GALAXI trials, which found guselkumab outperformed ustekinumab (Stelara) for multiple endoscopic endpoints. With the approval, guselkumab now boasts indications for moderately to severely active Crohn disease and moderately to severely active UC.

GI, Hepatology Overlap

Celiac Disease Linked to Greater Long-Term Incident Chronic Liver Disease Risk

Recent research suggests individuals with celiac disease have a 2-fold increased relative risk of developing incident chronic liver disease compared with the general population.

Leveraging data for nearly 50,000 patients with biopsy-confirmed celiac disease from the Epidemiology Strengthened by histoPathology Reports in Sweden (ESPRESSO) cohort, the nationwide cohort study found the hazard ratio of any chronic liver disease was greatest immediately after celiac disease diagnosis and remained elevated 25 years thereafter.