GI Clinical Trials

Department of Medicine
Gastroenterology & Hepatology

Clinical Trials

Gastroenterology clinical trials at the College of Medicine – Tucson focus on the clinical characterization and management of patients with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis — also known as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) that affect approximately 1 in 200 individuals in the United States.

IBD can in part be hereditary, due to an overactive immune system, and pertain to factors related to the environment (e.g., smoking, medications, etc.). The chronic intestinal inflammation in IBD can result in significant symptoms like diarrhea, abdominal pain and weight loss, eventually leading to complications that may require hospitalization and surgery. Though there have been advancements in IBD medical therapies, many patients do not tolerate or respond to current treatments and need other medical options.

Clinical drug trials provide novel medications that may be effective for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. We provide these therapies for our patients so they have access to additional treatment options. Sasha Taleban, MD, director of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Program, has significant experience directing Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis drug trials. If you meet the eligibility criteria for drug trials, he will work closely with you to help decide the most appropriate therapy.

People

Sasha Taleban, MD

Associate Professor, Medicine - (Clinical Scholar Track)
Associate Program Director, Gastroenterology & Hepatology Fellowship
Director, Inflammatory Bowel Disease Program
Clinical Specialties
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
Crohn’s Disease

 

Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc.’s Cultivate: A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Parallel-Group Study to Assess the Efficacy and Safety of Oral Etrasimod as Induction and Maintenance Therapy for Moderately to Severely Active Crohn’s Disease

  • Disease: Moderate/Severe Crohn’s Disease
  • Study Drug: Etrasimod (APD334) vs Placebo
  • Phase: II/III
  • Participation: Blinded induction and maintenance study, up to 208 weeks long

M15-722: Ulcerative Colitis: Ravagalimab (ABBV-323) in Subjects with Moderately to Severely Active UC Who Failed Prior Therapy

  • Disease: Moderate/Severe Ulcerative Colitis
  • Study Drug: Ravagalimab
  • Phase: IIa
  • Participation: Open-label induction and maintenance study, up to 104 weeks long

CARMEN 305: A Phase 3 Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled, Parallel-group Efficacy and Safety Study of SHP647 as Induction Therapy in Subjects With Moderate to Severe Crohn’s Disease (CARMEN CD 305)

  • Sponsor: Shire Human Genetic Therapies, Inc.
  • Disease: Moderate/Severe Crohn’s Disease
  • Study Drug: Ontamalimab
  • Phase: III

CARMEN 307: A Phase 3 Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled, Parallel-group Efficacy and Safety Study of SHP647 as Maintenance Therapy in Subjects With Moderate to Severe Crohn’s Disease (CARMEN CD 307)

  • Sponsor: Shire Human Genetic Therapies, Inc.
  • Disease: Moderate/Severe Crohn’s Disease
  • Study Drug: Ontamalimab
  • Phase: III

CARMEN 304: A Phase 3 Long-term Safety Extension Study of SHP647 in Subjects with Moderate to Severe Ulcerative Colitis or Crohn’s Disease (AIDA)

  • Sponsor: Shire Human Genetic Therapies, Inc.
  • Disease: Moderate/Severe Crohn’s Disease
  • Study Drug: Ontamalimab
  • Phase: III

M14-675: A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Induction Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Upadacitinib (ABT-494) in Subjects with Moderately to Severely Active Ulcerative Colitis

  • Sponsor: AbbVie
  • Disease: Moderate/Severe Ulcerative Colitis
  • Study Drug: Upadacitinib
  • Phase: III

M14-675: A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Induction Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Upadacitinib (ABT-494) in Subjects with Moderately to Severely Active Ulcerative Colitis

  • Sponsor: AbbVie
  • Disease: Moderate/Severe Ulcerative Colitis
  • Study Drug: Upadacitinib
  • Phase: III

M14-234: A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of Upadacitinib (ABT-494) for Induction and Maintenance Therapy in Subjects with Moderately to Severely Active Ulcerative Colitis

  • Sponsor: AbbVie
  • Disease: Moderate/Severe Ulcerative Colitis
  • Study Drug: Upadacitinib
  • Phase: II/III

M14-533: A Phase 3 Multicenter, Long-Term Extension Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of Upadacitinib (ABT-494) in Subjects with Ulcerative Colitis

  • Sponsor: AbbVie
  • Disease: Moderate/Severe Ulcerative Colitis
  • Study Drug: Upadacitinib
  • Phase: III

M15-991: A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Induction Study to Assess the Efficacy and Safety of Risankizumab in Subjects with Moderately to Severely Active Crohn's Disease Who Failed Prior Biologic Treatment

  • Sponsor: AbbVie
  • Disease: Moderate/Severe Crohn’s Disease
  • Study Drug: Risankizumab
  • Phase: III

M16-006: A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Induction Study of the Efficacy and Safety of Risankizumab in Subjects with Moderately to Severely Active Crohn's Disease

  • Sponsor: AbbVie
  • Disease: Moderate/Severe Crohn’s Disease
  • Study Drug: Risankizumab
  • Phase: III

M16-000: Controlled 52-Week Maintenance and an Open-Label Extension Study of the Efficacy and Safety of Risankizumab in Subjects with Crohn's Disease Who Responded to Induction Treatment in M16-006 or M15-991; or Completed M15-989

  • Sponsor: AbbVie
  • Disease: Moderate/Severe Crohn’s Disease
  • Study Drug: Risankizumab
  • Phase: III

Lucent 1 (AMAN): A Phase 3, Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Parallel, Placebo-Controlled Induction Study of Mirikizumab in Conventional-Failed and Biologic-Failed Patients with Moderately to Severely Active Ulcerative Colitis

  • Sponsor: Eli Lilly
  • Disease: Moderate/Severe Ulcerative Colitis
  • Study Drug: Mirikizumab
  • Phase: III

CT-P13 3.8: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind, Phase 3 Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of the Subcutaneous Injection of CT-P13 (CT-P13 SC) as Maintenance Therapy in Patients With Moderately to Severely Active Crohn’s Disease

  • Sponsor: Celltrion PPD
  • Disease: Moderate/Severe Crohn’s Disease
  • Study Drug: Infliximab
  • Phase: III

DINE-CD: Open Label, Randomized, Multicenter, Comparative Effectiveness Trial of Specific Carbohydrate and Mediterranean Diets to Induce Remission in Patients with Crohn’s Disease

  • Sponsor: Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
  • Disease: Moderate/Severe Crohn’s Disease
  • Study Drug: Study Diet

Techlab: Evaluating the Clinical Performance of Fecal Biomarkers in Elderly Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients

  • Sponsor: Initiated by Dr. Sasha Taleban
  • Disease: Moderate/Severe ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s Disease

Secure: A Non-Interventional Long-term Post-Marketing Registry of Patients Treated with Certolizumab Pegol (Cimzia®) for Crohn's Disease

  • Sponsor: UCB Biosciences Inc.
  • Disease: Crohn’s Disease
  • Study Drug: Cimzia

PASS: Entyvio (vedolizumab) long-term safety study: An international observational prospective cohort study comparing vedolizumab to other biologic agents in patients with ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s Disease.

  • Sponsor: Takeda
  • Disease: Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s Disease
  • Study Drug: Vedolizumab

Legacy: A Long-Term Non-Interventional Registry to Assess Safety and Effectiveness of HUMIRA® (Adalimumab) in Patients with Moderately to Severely Active Ulcerative Colitis (UC)

  • Sponsor: AbbVie
  • Disease: Moderate/Severe Crohn’s Disease
  • Study Drug: HUMIRA® (adalimumab)

2024

Micronutrient deficiencies in older patients with inflammatory bowel disease are not associated with worse adverse clinical outcome rates

Andres, B., Rasool, A., Pepich, G., Hsu, C-H, and Taleban, S., Ann Gastroenterol. 2024 Sep-Oct;37(5):536-542. doi: 10.20524/aog.2024.0900. Epub 2024 Jul 12. PMID: 39238798

Surgery for Crohn's Disease Is Associated With a Dysbiotic Microbiome and Metabolome: Results From Two Prospective Cohorts

Lewis, J.D., Daniel, S.G., Li, H., Hao, F., Patterson, A.D., Hecht, A.L., Brensinger, C.M., Wu, G.D., Bittinger, K.; DINE-CD; SPARC IBD Investigators, Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2024;18(3):101357. doi: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2024.05.005. Epub 2024 May 14. PMID: 38750900


2022

Exacerbation of Atopic Dermatitis Associated with Ustekinumab Treatment in Crohn's Disease

Andres, B. and Taleban S., Cureus. 2022 Sep 28;14(9):e29718. doi: 10.7759/cureus.29718. eCollection 2022 Sep. PMID: 36320969


2021

Colectomy Rates Are Increasing Among Inpatients With Concomitant Ulcerative Colitis and Clostridioides difficile

Taleban, S., and M. P. Shrestha, J Clin Gastroenterol, 08/2020, 2021. PMID: 32804686

Stomach This: Autoimmune Atrophic Pangastritis, a Rare Type of Gastritis.

Lee, S., N. Varshney, and S. Taleban, ACG Case Rep J, 2021. PMID: 34549052


2020

Vedolizumab (VDZ) for UC and CD: Still Safe and Effective After All These Years.

Bach, L., and S. Taleban, Digestive Diseases and Sciences, 03/2020. PMID: 32212020

Esophagitis Dissecans Superficialis: Malign Appearance of a Benign Pathology.

Rokkam, V. R., A. Aggarwal, and S. Taleban, Cureus, vol. 12, 06/2020. PMCID: PMC7336615  PMID: 32642379


2019

A Comprehensive Review of the Diagnosis and Pharmacological Management of Crohn's Disease in the Elderly Population.

Kim, D., and S. Taleban, Drugs Aging, 07/2019. PMID: 31055789

Alternate Settings for Infusions in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients: Homing in on Optimal Care.

Shrestha, M. P., S. Taleban, and A. Feld, Dig Dis Sci, 03/2019. PMID: 30725291

Management of Ulcerative Colitis in the Elderly.

Shrestha, M. P., and S. Taleban, Drugs Aging, vol. 36, 01/2019. PMID: 30515708

The Do's and Don'ts of Social Media: A Guide For Gastroenterologists.

Bilal, M., S. Taleban, J. Riegler, C. Surawicz, and A. Feld, Am J Gastroenterol, vol. 114, 03/2019. PMID: 30333539

Obesity Is Associated with Increased Risk of Colectomy in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients Hospitalized with Clostridium difficile Infection.

Shrestha, M. P., and S. Taleban, Dig Dis Sci, vol. 64, 06/2019. PMID: 30569334


2018

Editorial: older-onset inflammatory bowel disease-is it time to start looking beyond a number?

Taleban, S., Ailment Pharmacol Ther, vol. 47, 04/2018. PMID: 29512916

Lymphocytic Colitis Diagnosis 40 Years after Onset of Ulcerative Colitis.

Stavrakis, D., K. M. Meiklejohn, and S. Taleban, 5, 11/2018. PMCID: PMC6277135  PMID: 30568970

Mis-sizing of Adenomatous Polyps is Common among Endoscopists and Impacts Colorectal Cancer Screening Recommendations.

Pham, T., A. Bajaj, L. Berberi, C. Hu, and S. Taleban, Clin Endosc, 09/2018. PMID: 29925227

Frailty Assessment Predicts Acute Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Screening Colonoscopy.

Taleban, S., N. Toosizadeh, S. Junna, T. Golden, S. Ghazala, R. Wadeea, C. Tirambulo, and J. Mohler, Dig Dis Sci, 05/2018. PMID: 29796910

Decreasing Clostridium difficile-Associated Fatality Rates Among Hospitalized Patients in the United States: 2004-2014.

Shrestha, M. P., C. Bime, and S. Taleban, Am J Med, 01/2018. PMID: 28801226


2017

Healthcare maintenance in elderly patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Shrestha, M. P., J. Ruel, and S. Taleban, 02/2017. PMCID: PMC5411377  PMID: 28469357

Appointment Wait Time, Primary Care Provider Status, and Patient Demographics are Associated With Nonattendance at Outpatient Gastroenterology Clinic.

Shrestha, M. P., C. Hu, and S. Taleban, J Clin Gastroenterol, 05/2017. PMID: 27661970


2016

Corticosteroid Use in a Prospective, Community-Based Cohort of Newly Diagnosed Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients

Shapiro, J. M., S. E. Hagin, S. A. Shah, R. Bright, M. Law, H. Moniz, J. Giacalone, T. Jackvony, S. Taleban, Z. Samad, et al., Dig Dis Sci, 06/2016. PMID: 26725063

Clinical Activity and Quality of Life Indices Are Valid Across Ulcerative Colitis But Not Crohn's Disease Phenotypes

Taleban, S., K. O. Stewart, D. L. Li, P. Singh, D. S. Pardi, H. C. Sturgeon, V. Yajnik, R. J. Xavier, A. N. Ananthakrishnan, and H. Khalili, Dig Dis Sci, 05/2016. PMCID: PMC4982770  PMID: 27142671

Cancer and inflammatory bowel disease in the elderly

Taleban, S., E. Elquza, C. Gower-Rousseau, and L. Peyrin-Biroulet, Dig Liver Dis, 2020 Aug 14, 2016. PMID: 27289334

Ocular Manifestations in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Are Associated with Other Extra-intestinal Manifestations, Gender, and Genes Implicated in Other Immune-related Traits

Taleban, S., D. Li, S. R. Targan, A. Ippoliti, S. R. Brant, J. H. Cho, R. H. Duerr, J. D. Rioux, M. S. Silverberg, E. A. Vasiliauskas, et al., J Crohns Colitis, 08/2015, 2016. PMCID: PMC6082592  PMID: 26449790

Colectomy with Permanent End Ileostomy Is More Cost-Effective than Ileal Pouch-Anal Anastomosis for Crohn's Colitis

Taleban, S., M. G. H. Van Oijen, E. A. Vasiliauskas, B. Shen, P. R. Fleshner, A. F. Ippoliti, S. R. Targan, and G. Y. Melmed, Dig Dis Sci, 02/2016. PMID: 26434930


2015

Inflammatory bowel disease and the elderly: a review

Taleban, S., J-F. Colombel, J. M Mohler, and M. Fain, J Crohns Colitis, vol. 9, 06/2015. PMID: 25870198

Placental inflammation is not increased in inflammatory bowel disease

Taleban, S., F. Gundogan, E. K. Chien, S. Degli-Esposti, S. Saha, and R. Wadeea, Ann Gastroenterol, vol. 28, 12/2015. PMCID: PMC4585392  PMID: 26423206

Challenges in the Diagnosis and Management of Inflammatory Bowel Disease in the Elderly

Taleban, S., Curr Treat Options Gastroenterol, vol. 13, 09/2015. PMID: 26063673


2008

Energy balance in congenital generalized lipodystrophy type I

Taleban, S., H. T. Carew, H. T. Dichek, S. S. Deeb, D. Hollenback, D. S. Weigle, D. E. Cummings, and J. D. Brunzell, Metabolism, 08/2008. PMCID: PMC3259008  PMID: 18640396