← Issue №8/ week of Aug 23, 2026/IBD

Effectiveness, Durability, and Safety of Ustekinumab in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Results from the Taiwan Multicenter Real-world Ustekinumab Study (T-RUST Study).

From GI Signals issue №8: what this paper found, what it changes, and where it sits against the current standard of care, reviewed by Simon Mathews, MD.

IBD retrospective · n=379 · Aug 18, 2026 · Inflamm Bowel Dis · IF 4.5

Effectiveness, Durability, and Safety of Ustekinumab in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Results from the Taiwan Multicenter Real-world Ustekinumab Study (T-RUST Study).

New evidenceCrohn's diseaseulcerative colitisustekinumabperianal disease
Clinical takeawayUstekinumab achieved 84.7-90.2% clinical remission at 52 weeks, with one-year persistence >85% and fistula closure in 45.9% of fistulizing CD. This real-world evidence confirms ustekinumab's trial efficacy and supports its use as a durable option for CD and UC.
What it foundAt 52 weeks, ustekinumab achieved clinical remission in 84.7% of CD and 90.2% of UC patients; fistula closure occurred in 45.9% of fistulizing CD (17/37), and one-year drug persistence exceeded 85% (91.0% in CD, 85.9% in UC).
ContextThis real-world multicenter study extends prior trial efficacy data for ustekinumab (UNITI-IBD trials) to an Asian IBD population where real-world experience was previously limited, confirming the drug's durability in clinical practice.
Reinforcessuggested applicable standard· ACG Clinical Guideline Update: Ulcerative Colitis in Adults, Am J Gastroenterol 2025;120(6):1187-1224; AGA Living Guideline on Pharmacological Management of Moderate-to-Severe UC, Gastroenterology 2024 (panel review March 2026, no changes)

Decision at stakePosition ustekinumab as intermediate efficacy in advanced-therapy-naive UC and higher efficacy in TNF-exposed UC

Position advanced therapy by EFFICACY TIER, not by an anti-TNF-first rule. Advanced-therapy-naive, higher efficacy: infliximab, vedolizumab, ozanimod, etrasimod, upadacitinib, risankizumab, guselkumab; intermediate: golimumab, ustekinumab, tofacitinib, filgotinib, mirikizumab; lower: adalimumab. PREVIOUSLY TNF-EXPOSED, higher efficacy: tofacitinib, upadacitinib, ustekinumab; lower: adalimumab, vedolizumab, ozanimod, etrasimod - S1P modulators are weakest in exactly this group.

From our summary of this standard, unedited — the part the paper bears on. marks omitted text. Our wording, not the guideline's; read the source for its own text.

Our full summary of this standard

Confirm ulcerative colitis with endoscopy showing continuous colonic inflammation from the rectum plus histology, after excluding infection with two-step CDI testing. Treat mild-moderate disease with 5-ASA by route and extent (suppository for proctitis, enema for left-sided, oral plus rectal for extensive); if 5-ASA fails, treat as moderate-to-severe rather than stepping up gradually. Position advanced therapy by EFFICACY TIER, not by an anti-TNF-first rule. Advanced-therapy-naive, higher efficacy: infliximab, vedolizumab, ozanimod, etrasimod, upadacitinib, risankizumab, guselkumab; intermediate: golimumab, ustekinumab, tofacitinib, filgotinib, mirikizumab; lower: adalimumab. PREVIOUSLY TNF-EXPOSED, higher efficacy: tofacitinib, upadacitinib, ustekinumab; lower: adalimumab, vedolizumab, ozanimod, etrasimod - S1P modulators are weakest in exactly this group. Do not cycle within the anti-TNF class after primary non-response; switch mechanism. Apply treat-to-target (STRIDE-II) to endoscopic improvement (MES 0-1). Screen for acute severe UC by Truelove-Witts and admit for IV steroids. Begin CRC surveillance 8-10 years after DIAGNOSIS for extensive or left-sided disease; isolated proctitis follows average-risk screening.

ACG Clinical Guideline Update: Ulcerative Colitis in Adults, Am J Gastroenterol 2025;120(6):1187-1224; AGA Living Guideline on Pharmacological Management of Moderate-to-Severe UC, Gastroenterology 2024 (panel review March 2026, no changes) ↗
Lin SH … Le PH · Inflammatory Bowel Diseases · IF 4.5 · PubMed ↗Permalink
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