Effect of extended MMX mesalamine therapy for acute, midl-to-moderate Ulcerative Colitis

Abstract

Background: Many patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) respond to mesalamine therapy within 8 weeks. Those not achieving remission after 8 weeks are often treated with steroids or other immunosuppressive therapies. This study aimed to determine the effect of 8 weeks' high-dose MMX mesalamine extension therapy in patients with active, mild-to-moderate UC who had previously failed to achieve complete remission in 2 phase III, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies of MMX mesalamine (SPD476-301 and -302). Methods: Patients with active, mild-to-moderate UC who did not achieve clinical and endoscopic remission after ≤8 weeks' treatment with MMX mesalamine (2.4 or 4.8 g/day), ASACOL® (mesalamine..