Clinical trial Recruiting at 1 site Phase 2 Interventional Ages 18 to 65

Etrasimod to Help Prevent Pouchitis After Pouch Surgery

Official title: Etrasimod as Primary and Secondary Prevention of Pouchitis (ESPIRIT)

Run by Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai · NCT07486921 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study tests whether etrasimod, taken daily, can help prevent pouchitis in adults who had total proctocolectomy with ileal-pouch anal anastomosis for ulcerative colitis and are currently in remission.

Quick facts

PhasePhase 2
Study typeInterventional
Ages18 Years to 65 Years
SexAll
Enrollment40 (estimated)
SponsorIcahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Academic / other
Locations1 site (New York, New York)
StatusRecruiting
StartedJuly 1, 2026
Main results expectedFebruary 6, 2030
Study endsFebruary 6, 2030
Registry record updatedSeptember 21, 2026
Trial IDNCT07486921 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Adults 18 years and older with UC who had TPC with IPAA and are in remission but at high risk for pouchitis (including those with a prior pouchitis episode).

Probably not a fit

Patients who do not have high risk for pouchitis or who do not respond to etrasimod may not receive a benefit.

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2 trial. Adults who had UC and underwent TPC with IPAA and are in symptom remission at enrollment will be assigned to etrasimod 2 mg daily or placebo for 48 weeks, with randomization stratified by PSC history and prior pouchitis. The study follows Good Clinical Practice and IRB requirements. Primary and secondary prevention of pouchitis will be evaluated through predefined clinical assessments and safety monitoring.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, etrasimod could lower the risk of pouchitis for high-risk patients after IPAA.

How similar studies have gone: Previous studies in related therapies have shown promise for preventing pouchitis, but this exact approach with etrasimod in this setting is investigational.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Male or female aged ≥ 18 years (verified at screening)
* Ability to provide written informed consent and to be compliant with protocol assessments (verified at screening)
* Diagnosed with UC and underwent TPC with IPAA for medically refractory disease or dysplasia (verified at screening)
* Screening may take place at any time from one month to two years after the final surgical stage
* High-risk of developing acute pouchitis - defined as fulfilling at least one of the criteria defined in section 2 (verified at screening)
* Patients with 1 prior episode of acute pouchitis can be enrolled - after a minimum period of 4 weeks after completion of a course of antibiotics and resolution of symptoms of pouchitis
* Symptomatic remission defined by a symptom mPDAI subscore ≤2 points at the baseline visit (verified at screening, baseline)
* Adequate hematological function defined by white blood cell count ≥ 3.5 × 109/L with absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 1.5 × 109/L, absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) ≥ 0.8 × 109/L, platelet count ≥ 100 × 109/L, and hemoglobin ≥ 8 g/dL (verified at screening)
* Healthcare professional-confirmed history of varicella or a full course of vaccination against varicella zoster virus (VZV) or a positive antibody test to VZV (verified at screening)
* 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) that showed no clinically significant abnormalities as defined by the clinician's judgement (verified at screening)
* Females must be non-pregnant, as determined by qualitative urine hCG testing, non-lactating, and if premenopausal, must agree to using a highly effective contraception method (that can achieve a failure rate of less than 1% per year when used consistently and correctly) during treatment and for one week after stopping treatment with etrasimod (verified at screening)

Exclusion Criteria:

* Isolated cuffitis (verified at screening pouchoscopy)
* Diagnosis of Crohn's disease (verified at screening)
* Diagnosis of Crohn's disease-like pouch inflammation (verified at screening)

  o Crohn's disease-like pouch inflammation is defined as ulcerations of the pre-pouch ileum extending \> 10 cm above the inlet, strictures in the pre-pouch ileum or pouch body outside of the anastomoses, and/or fistulae of the pre-pouch ileum, pouch body, or perineum
* Diagnosis of chronic pouchitis (verified at screening)

  o Chronic pouchitis is defined as persistent (\> 4 weeks) or recurrent (\> 4 episodes/year) symptoms of pouchitis
* Anastomotic stenosis or other mechanical complications of the pouch (verified at screening pouchoscopy)
* Treatment with probiotics ≤ 3 months prior to screening (verified at screening)
* Treatment with topical rectal 5-ASA, or steroids ≤ 2 weeks prior to or during screening (verified at screening)
* Any use of a biologic or small molecule approved for moderately to severely active UC or investigational, after TPC with IPAA (verified at screening)
* Any prior exposure to a S1P receptor modulator therapy, at any time (verified at screening)
* Any investigational or biologic agent within 30 days of screening pouchoscopy (verified at screening)
* Have the following cardiovascular history (verified at screening):

  * In the last 6 months, have experienced a myocardial infarction, unstable angina pectoris, stroke, transient ischemic attack (TIA), decompensated heart failure requiring hospitalization, or Class III or IV heart failure
  * Have a history or presence of Mobitz type II second-degree or third-degree atrioventricular (AV) block, sick sinus syndrome, or sino-atrial block, unless the patient has a functioning pacemaker
  * A history of symptomatic bradycardia, recurrent cardiogenic syncope, Mobitz type I second-degree AV block, or severe untreated sleep apnea
  * Significant QT prolongation (QTcF interval ≥ 450 ms in male or ≥ 470 ms in females)
  * Arrhythmias requiring treatment with Class Ia or Class III anti-arrhythmic drugs or QT prolonging drugs
* Clinically significant or serious active infection ≤ 28 days prior to baseline - including but not limited to (verified at screening):

  * Positive assay or stool culture for pathogens (ova and parasite examination, bacteria) or
  * positive test for Clostridioides difficile toxin at screening
  * Active tuberculosis
  * Acute or chronic hepatitis B or hepatitis C
  * HIV infection
* Pregnancy, lactation, or a positive urine pregnancy test measured during screening
* Severe hepatic impairment (Child Pugh Class C) (verified at screening)
* Have a known history of macular edema or retinopathy (verified at screening)
* History of cancer within the last 5 years (excluding in situ squamous or basal cell carcinoma of the skin that has been excised and resolved) or current malignancy (verified at screening)
* History of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES)
* Have a history of any clinically significant medical condition that, in the investigator's opinion, precludes participation in the study (verified at screening)

Where it's running

  • Icahn School Of Medicine at Mount Sinai
    New York, New York, United States
    Recruiting

Study contacts

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.