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Evaluating Tofacitinib for Children with Moderate to Severe Ulcerative Colitis

OPEN-LABEL INDUCTION AND MAINTENANCE STUDY OF ORAL CP-690,550 (TOFACITINIB) IN CHILDREN WITH MODERATELY TO SEVERELY ACTIVE ULCERATIVE COLITIS

Phase 3 Interventional Pfizer · NCT04624230

This study is testing if a medication called tofacitinib can help children aged 2 to 17 with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis feel better and reach remission after 44 weeks.

Quick facts

PhasePhase 3
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment120 (estimated)
Ages2 Years to 17 Years
SexAll
SponsorPfizer Industry-sponsored
Drugs / interventionsinfliximab, adalimumab, golimumab, ustekinumab, natalizumab, vedolizumab, tofacitinib, methotrexate, prednisone
Locations80 sites (Los Angeles, California and 79 other locations)
Trial IDNCT04624230 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This clinical trial aims to assess the efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetics of tofacitinib in children aged 2 to 17 years suffering from moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis (UC). Participants will receive an initial open-label dose of tofacitinib, with the possibility of dose escalation based on individual response. The primary goal is to achieve remission as measured by the Mayo score after 44 weeks in the maintenance phase. The study will enroll pediatric patients with a history of inadequate response or intolerance to other treatments.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are children aged 2 to 17 years with a confirmed diagnosis of moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis.

Not a fit: Patients with a history of dysplasia or colon cancer, or those with untreated infections, may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment could provide a new effective option for managing ulcerative colitis in pediatric patients.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown promise with tofacitinib in adult populations, but this specific pediatric application is novel.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria 
Inclusion Criteria:

* Evidence of a personally signed and dated informed consent document and assent document.
* Males and females 2 to less than18 years old and weighing at least 10 kg.
* Having a pathology report that confirms colonic inflammation consistent with UC with a clinical diagnosis of UC for at least 12 weeks prior to baseline, with biopsy report supporting the diagnosis of UC.
* Participants diagnosed with UC at age less than 6 years old, must have had testing and be negative for monogenic disorders associated with very early onset IBD.
* Moderately to severely active UC as defined (via screening colonoscopy) by a Mayo score of at least 6, with a rectal bleeding score of at least 1 and an endoscopic subscore of at least 2.
* Pediatric Ulcerative Colitis Activity Index (PUCAI) score greater or equal to 35 .
* No history of dysplasia or colon cancer.
* No evidence or history of untreated or inadequately treated active or latent infection with Mycobacterium Tuberculosis.
* For participants outside of the United States or the European Union: have had an inadequate response or been intolerant to at least one prior therapy as listed below or have a medical contraindication to such therapies:

  * Oral or intravenous (IV) corticosteroids;
  * Azathioprine or 6-mercaptopurine;
  * TNF inhibitors or anti integrin therapy.
* For participants in the United States and the European Union: have had an inadequate response or intolerance to TNF inhibitors.
* Stable doses of the following therapies for UC:

  * Oral 5 Aminosalicyclic acids (ASA) or sulfasalazine
  * Oral corticosteroids equivalent to prednisone at most 1 mg/kg up to a maximum of 20 mg/day or budesonide up to 9 mg/day.
* female participant is eligible if she is not pregnant or breastfeeding, If she is a woman of child bearing potential, she needs to be using a contraceptive method that is highly effective (with a failure rate of \<1% per year).

Exclusion Criteria:

* Diagnosis of indeterminate colitis, isolated proctitis, microscopic colitis, infectious colitis, Crohn's disease, or clinical findings suggestive of Crohn's disease.
* History of symptomatic obstructive intestinal strictures or active ostomy, or history of colectomy, extensive small bowel resection ( greater than100 centimetres) or short bowel syndrome, or hospitalization for UC related reason(s) within 2 weeks of baseline visit.
* Any factors or clinical characteristics potentially related to the risk of venous thromboembolism that may increase the risk associated with study participation or study intervention administration or may interfere with the interpretation of study results and, in the judgment of the investigator, would make the participant inappropriate for entry into this study.
* Participants who have previously received tofacitinib or another Janus Kinase inhibitor.
* Vaccination or exposure to a live or attenuated vaccine within the 6 weeks prior to the first dose of study drug, or who are expected to be vaccinated or to have household exposure to these vaccines during treatment or during the 6 weeks following discontinuation of study drug.
* Participants having received azathioprine, 6-mercaptopurine, methotrexate, thioguanine, infliximab, adalimumab, golimumab, ustekinumab, interferon, cyclosporine, mycophenolate, tacrolimus, IV or rectally administered corticosteroids, natalizumab, vedolizumab, other antiadhesion molecules, or investigational drugs during the specified time periods prior to baseline whereby they may still have pharmacokinetic and/or pharmacodynamic effect in the body of the participant.
* Previous treatment by leukocyte apheresis including selective lymphocyte, monocyte, or granulocyte apheresis, or plasma exchange within 6 months prior to baseline.
* Treatment by specified prohibited concomitant medications, including moderate to potent CYP3A inducers or inhibitors in the specified time periods prior to the first dose of study drug or are expected to receive any of these medications during the study period.
* Chronic and frequent use of antimotility agents for control of diarrhea (ie, diphenoxylate hydrochloride with atropine sulfate or loperamide).
* History of bowel surgery, including cholecystectomy within 6 months prior to baseline, history of appendectomy within 3 months prior to baseline, or significant trauma or major surgery within 4 weeks of screening visit are excluded.
* Participants with the following laboratory values at screening:

  * Hemoglobin level lower than 9.0 g/Dl.
  * Absolute white blood cell (WBC) count lower than 3000/mm3.
  * Absolute neutrophil count lower than 1200/mm3.
  * Absolute lymphocyte count lower than 750/mm3.
  * Thrombocytopenia as defined by a platelet count lower than 100,000/mm3.
  * Estimated bedside Schwartz Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) lower or equal to 40 mL/min/1.73 m2.
  * Total bilirubin, aspartate aminostransferase (AST) or alanine aminotransferase (ALT) more than 1.5 times the upper limit of normal.
* Positive stool examinations for enteric pathogens, pathogenic ova or parasites, or C. difficile toxin at screening.
* Participants infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or hepatitis B or C viruses.
* History of more than one episode of HZ, a history of disseminated HZ or disseminated herpes simplex.
* History or current symptoms of any lymphoproliferative disorder (eg, Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) related lymphoproliferative disorder, lymphoma, leukemia, myeloproliferative disorders, multiple myeloma, or signs and symptoms suggestive of currently lymphatic disease).
* Clinically significant infections currently or within 3 months prior to baseline (eg, those requiring hospitalization or parenteral antimicrobial therapy or opportunistic infections), a history of any infection requiring antimicrobial therapy within 2 weeks of baseline, or a history of any infection otherwise judged by the investigator to have the potential for exacerbation by participation in the study.
* Any malignancies or with a history of malignancies, with the exception of adequately treated or excised nonmetastatic basal cell or squamous cell cancer of the skin.
* Investigator site staff members directly involved in the conduct of the study and their family members, site staff members otherwise supervised by the investigator, or participants who are employees of the Sponsor, including their family members, directly involved in the conduct of the study.
* Participation in other studies involving investigational drug(s) within 2 months prior to study entry and/or during study participation.
* Other acute or chronic medical or psychiatric condition including recent (within the past year) or active suicidal ideation or behavior or laboratory abnormality that may increase the risk associated with study participation or study intervention administration or may interfere with the interpretation of study results and, in the judgment of the investigator, would make the participant inappropriate for entry into this study.
* Pregnant female participants; breastfeeding female participants; fertile female participants of childbearing potential who are unwilling or unable to use a highly effective method of contraception as outlined in this protocol for the duration of the study and through the telephone follow up visit.
* History of allergies, intolerance or hypersensitivity to lactose or tofacitinib, or any other excipients of the investigational medicinal products, including placebos.

Where this trial is running

Los Angeles, California and 79 other locations

+30 more sites — see ClinicalTrials.gov for the full list.

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
View on ClinicalTrials.gov → Find more trials like this →
Conditions Ulcerative ColitisPediatricTofacitinib OralMayoPUCAIFlare
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 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.