Omvoh Offers New Hope for Long-Term Control in Crohn's Disease
Eli Lilly presented new long-term efficacy data for its drug Omvoh (mirikizumab-mrkz) in moderately to severely active Crohn's disease at the 2026 Congress of the European Crohn's and Colitis Organisation (ECCO). Data from the VIVID-2 open-label extension study demonstrated durable efficacy through three years of continuous treatment.
Key Efficacy Data: High Rates of Sustained Steroid-Free Remission
In the VIVID-2 study, patients who achieved endoscopic response at Week 52 in the prior VIVID-1 trial and continued on Omvoh treatment showed outstanding long-term outcomes:
- Clinical Remission: 92.4% of patients maintained clinical remission at Week 152.
- Steroid-Free Clinical Remission: 91.2% of patients maintained corticosteroid-free clinical remission at Week 152.
- Bowel Urgency Improvement: 82.1% of patients achieved a ≥3-point reduction on the Urgency Numeric Rating Scale (UNRS), and 71.7% achieved a UNRS score of ≤2 (indicating mild or no symptoms).
This means over ninety percent of patients controlled their disease activity for three years without the need for corticosteroids, which is crucial for avoiding the long-term side effects associated with steroid use.
Significantly Reducing Risks of Severe Complications
Beyond maintaining remission, Omvoh demonstrated excellence in reducing severe complications of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including both Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis:
- In the Crohn's disease VIVID-1 trial, Omvoh reduced disease-related hospitalizations and/or surgeries by nearly half compared to placebo in the first 12 weeks, and by nearly 70% during weeks 12 to 52.
- In the ulcerative colitis LUCENT-3 long-term extension study, patients treated with Omvoh reported only one UC-related hospitalization and no UC-related surgeries over three years.
These remarkably low hospitalization and surgery rates provide strong evidence of Omvoh's potential to alter the natural course of the disease and prevent cumulative intestinal damage.
Mechanism of Action and Status
Omvoh is an interleukin-23 (IL-23) p19 subunit inhibitor. IL-23 is a key cytokine driving several chronic inflammatory diseases, including IBD. By selectively inhibiting IL-23, Omvoh targets the source of the abnormal immune response.
Currently, Omvoh is the only IL-23p19 inhibitor to demonstrate strong and durable efficacy over four years in ulcerative colitis and three years in Crohn's disease, with a simple monthly subcutaneous injection maintenance dosing regimen.
Future Outlook
Eli Lilly is actively advancing studies of Omvoh in combination with other therapies, aiming to provide faster symptom control (induction of remission) while maintaining long-term efficacy. These studies include combinations with antibodies targeting neutrophil-driven inflammation, oral integrin inhibitors, and incretin-based therapies (for weight management).
Omvoh has now received regulatory approvals for the treatment of adults with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease in 47 countries worldwide, including the U.S., EU, and Japan.