Evaluation of Efficacy, Safety and Patient' Satisfaction of Therapeutic Switch From Off-Steroids to Budesonide

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic, immune-mediated, esophageal-restricted disease characterized clinically by symptoms related to esophageal dysfunction and histologically by an eosinophil-predominant inflammation.A dramatic increase in incidence and prevalence of EoE has been documented over the last 2 decades, especially in Western countries.EoE is currently the most common cause of dysphagia and bolus impaction, and the second leading cause of chronic esophagitis after gastroesophageal reflux disease.Predominant symptoms of EoE in adult patients are chronic dysphagia, food impaction, and chest pain.EoE is a chronic-progressive disease and, if left untreated, is usually associated with persistence of symptoms and inflammation.Furthermore, it is well established that the ongoing eosinophilic inflammation leads to esophageal remodeling, resulting in fibrosis with possible stricture formation and functional damage.Consequently, EoE has a substantial negative impact on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients and their families by causing emotional distress and restricting social activities.There is, therefore, a clear indication to treat patients suffering from active EoE.

Today, swallowed topical-acting corticosteroids (STCs) are an established first-line pharmacologic treatment for patients with EoE.Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and dietary modifications are alternatives. From the first positive attempt to treat EoE with STCs, drugs that were originally developed for airway administration in patients with asthma and used off-label in eosinophilic esophagitis,multiple trials have confirmed the efficacy of these compounds in improving symptoms as well as inflammation in patients with EoE. Fluticasone or budesonide have shown comparable potencies, but the vehicle depositing the compound on the esophageal surface seems to be critical.Until now there has been no licensed therapy for eosinophilic esophagitis treatment; treatment using drugs adapted from other conditions has been limited and not standardized.

Recently a new budesonide orodispersible tablet formulation (BOT, originally defined as an "effervescent tablet for orodispersible use [BET]") has been created and has been shown in clinical trials to be able to resolve both the symptoms and the underlying inflammation in EoE in most patients.

Budesonide orodispersible tablet treatment has been shown to be significantly more effective than placebo in inducing clinical and histologic remission in patients affected by EoE. A phase 3 trial showed the effectiveness of a 6-week treatment with new budesonide orodispersible tablet (BOT) to induce clinicohistologic remission in 58% of adult patients with EoE, which increased to 85% when therapy was extended to 12 weeks in nonresponders.

Another clinical trial showed that after 48 weeks of treatment, 73.5% of patients treated with low-dose and 75% of patients treated with high dose budesonide remained in remission, compared with 4.4% of patients treated with placebo.

The budesonide orodispersible tablet formulation, with the name of Jorveza, received the marketing authorization valid in the EU on 8 January 2018 and recently received AIFA approval to be distributed in Italy as the first medicine with indication for eosinophilic esophagitis.

Therefore, patients with eosinophilic esophagitis who are taking off-label corticosteroid formulations (fluticasone diproprionate and budesonide in galenic formulation) will need to make a therapeutic transition to Jorveza.

No data are currently available in the literature about efficacy, safety and patient' satisfaction after therapeutic switch from off-label swallowed topical-acting corticosteroids to budesonide orodispersible tablet formulation (Jorveza).