Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial of Budesonide Multi-Matrix System (MMX®) 9 Milligrams (mg) in Participants With Ulcerative Colitis Currently on a 5-Aminosalicylic Acid (5-ASA)

Eligible participants will be randomized to 1 of the following 2 treatment arms:

• Budesonide MMX 9 mg (1 tablet)
• Placebo (tablet indistinguishable from budesonide MMX 9 mg tablet)

The assigned study drug will be taken as a single oral tablet each morning after breakfast. In addition to the study drug, all participants will continue their existing background oral 5-ASA regimen during the treatment period.

Inclusion criteria

• Age 18 to 75 years, inclusive.
• Established diagnosis of UC, based on clinical history, exclusion of infectious causes, and characteristic endoscopic and histologic findings.
• Active mild or moderate UC with an ulcerative colitis disease activity index (UCDAI) score ≥4 and ≤10, with a mucosal appearance score of ≥1, and physician's rating of disease activity of 1 or 2.
• Experiencing active UC (flare) despite a therapeutic dose of an oral 5-ASA (for example, mesalamine ≥2.4 g/day for ≥6 weeks prior to randomization, or equivalent). At screening, photographic evidence of active UC based on mucosal appearance must be obtained.
• Women of childbearing potential or men of reproductive potential must be willing to use an acceptable form of contraception.
• Able to comprehend the full nature and purpose of the study, including possible risks and side effects, and also able to comply with all requirements of the study. Must be able to understand and voluntarily sign an informed consent prior to any study procedures.

Exclusion criteria

• Limited distal proctitis (from anal verge to 15 centimeters [cm] above the pectineal line).
• Severe UC (UCDAI >10 or physician global assessment [PGA] >2), or non-active UC (UCDAI <4).
• Infectious colitis or any recent history of infectious colitis (within 30 days of Screening).
• Active malignancy or carcinoma in situ within the last 5 years (treated non-melanoma skin cancers are not exclusionary).
• Active ulcer or bleeding disorder that may affect evaluation of blood in the stool.
• Evidence or history of toxic megacolon or bowel resection.
• Crohn's disease or indeterminate colitis.
• Known hypersensitivity to budesonide or any ingredients of the budesonide MMX tablets.
• Active tuberculosis or other active systemic or local bacterial, fungal, or viral infection.
• Liver cirrhosis, evident hepatic or renal disease or insufficiency, or significant impairment of the biohumoral parameters (≥2.5*upper limit of normal [ULN] for alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, or ≥2*ULN for creatinine). Elevations in bilirubin due to benign conditions such as Gilbert's syndrome are not exclusionary.
• Severe diseases in other organs or systems.
• Local or systemic complications or other pathological states requiring therapy with corticosteroids and/or immunosuppressive agents.
• Type 1 diabetes.
• Glaucoma or with a family history of glaucoma in first-degree relatives.
• Known hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), according to the local privacy policy.
• Severe anemia (<9 g/deciliter [dL] hemoglobin), leukopenia (<2.5*10^9 white blood cells [WBC]/liter [L]), or granulocytopenia (<1.2*10^9 cells/L).
• Participants with a history of pancolitis (disease that extends to the hepatic flexure or beyond) for ≥8 years or left-sided colitis (disease confined to the left colon [that is, distal to the splenic flexure]) ≥15 years who have not yet completed a surveillance colonoscopy for dysplasia/colorectal cancer screening within the past year.
• Prior budesonide MMX treatment.
• Use of oral corticosteroids including other budesonide formulations within the last 4 weeks prior to randomization.
• Use of any rectal 5-ASA or corticosteroid formulations within the last 2 weeks prior to randomization.
• Use of immunosuppressive agents within the last 8 weeks prior to randomization.
• Use of anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) agents or other biologic therapies within the last 3 months prior to randomization.
• Participation in experimental therapeutic studies within 30 days of randomization (or within the last 3 months if in an anti-TNFα or biologic agent study). Note: participants who participated in observational-only studies (and who did not receive study therapy) are not excluded.
• Any other medical condition that, in the Principal Investigator's opinion, would make the administration of the study drug or study procedures hazardous to the participant or obscure the interpretation of adverse events (AEs) by the appropriate independent ethics committee/institutional review board.