AbbVie presented new real-world evidence at DDW 2026 showing long-term symptom improvement, reduced corticosteroid use, strong treatment persistence, and lower hospitalization risk with SKYRIZI and RINVOQ in inflammatory bowel disease patients.
Written By: Vikas Londhe, MPharm (Pharmacology)
Chief Editor, Patient Safety Expert
AbbVie presented new real‑world evidence at the Digestive Disease Week (DDW) 2026 Annual Meeting highlighting long‑term treatment durability, symptom improvement, and healthcare utilization outcomes for SKYRIZI (risankizumab) and RINVOQ (upadacitinib) in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
The company showcased multiple analyses from real‑world clinical practice and U.S. claims databases supporting the continued use of both therapies in Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), particularly among patients with difficult‑to‑manage disease.
As a leader in gastroenterology, AbbVie remains focused on advancing the understanding of IBD and helping raise the standard of care through scientific innovation and a broad portfolio of marketed and investigational therapies, said Andrew Anisfeld, Ph.D., vice president, global medical affairs, immunology, AbbVie.
One of the key presentations came from the ongoing ASPIRE‑CD real‑world study evaluating SKYRIZI in adults with moderately to severely active Crohn’s disease. At 52 weeks, patients reported sustained improvements in abdominal pain, bowel urgency, and liquid or soft stools after initiating treatment. The study also showed reduced reliance on concomitant medications, with corticosteroid use declining from 34% at baseline to 7% at one year and over‑the‑counter therapy use falling from 72% to 49%.
AbbVie additionally reported meaningful improvements in patient‑reported quality of life measures. Approximately 77% of patients described improved enjoyment of life by Week 52, alongside gains in general wellbeing, sexual health, work productivity, and daily activity levels. Overall treatment satisfaction increased from 50% at baseline to nearly 87% after one year of treatment, reaching 92% among patients who remained on SKYRIZI at Week 52.
Another real‑world claims analysis suggested strong treatment persistence with SKYRIZI compared with other biologic therapies used in Crohn’s disease. Over a 24‑month period, the switch rate for risankizumab was 14%, compared with 21% for ustekinumab, 30% for vedolizumab, 33% for infliximab, and 36% for adalimumab.
For RINVOQ, AbbVie highlighted retrospective U.S. claims data showing that patients with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis who switched from a biologic therapy to upadacitinib experienced lower healthcare utilization than those who underwent biologic dose escalation. According to the analysis, switching to RINVOQ was associated with 31% lower odds of hospitalization and 26% lower odds of emergency department visits.
The company also presented findings from a post‑hoc analysis of two Phase 3 trials in patients with perianal fistulizing Crohn’s disease (PFCD), one of the most challenging forms of Crohn’s disease to treat. Patients receiving maintenance therapy with upadacitinib demonstrated sustained endoscopic improvements through 52 weeks, including reductions in the Simple Endoscopic Score for Crohn’s Disease (SES‑CD), regardless of fistula response, and the majority of these patients had previously shown inadequate response to anti‑TNF therapies.
The presentations reinforce AbbVie’s strategy to expand long‑term evidence generation for its immunology portfolio as competition intensifies in the IBD market. While the analyses were largely based on real‑world evidence and retrospective datasets rather than randomized head‑to‑head trials, the findings provide additional insight into treatment durability, patient satisfaction, and healthcare outcomes in routine clinical practice.
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About the Writer
Vikas Londhe is the Chief Editor and a subject matter expert in patient safety and drug safety. He has a deep understanding of pharmacology, medication-related risks, patient and drug-related errors, and global drug regulatory frameworks. Through his work, he focuses on translating complex medical and regulatory information into clear, evidence-based insights that support safer medication use and informed healthcare decisions.