Abivax Announces Positive Phase 3 Results from Both ABTECT 8-Week Induction Trials Investigating Obefazimod, its First-in-Class Oral miR-124 Enhancer, in Moderate to Severely Active Ulcerative Colitis
Abivax Announces Positive Phase 3 Results from Both ABTECT 8-Week Induction Trials Investigating Obefazimod, its First-in-Class Oral miR-124 Enhancer, in Moderate to Severely Active Ulcerative Colitis
- 50 mg once-daily dose of obefazimod led to a compelling pooled 16.4% (p<0.0001) placebo-adjusted clinical remission rate at Week 8 in the ABTECT-1 (Study 105) and ABTECT-2 (Study 106) trials. Individually, the 50 mg dose demonstrated a placebo-adjusted remission rate of 19.3% (p<0.0001) in ABTECT-1 and a placebo-adjusted remission rate of 13.4% (p=0.0001) in ABTECT-2.
- 50 mg once-daily dose of obefazimod met all key secondary endpoints demonstrating highly statistically significant and clinically meaningful benefits.
- ABTECT included a well-balanced distribution of advanced therapy naïve and advanced therapy experienced participants, with 47.3% of participants having had inadequate response to prior advanced therapy, including the largest population of patients with inadequate response to JAK inhibitor therapy in Phase 3 UC trials to date.
- Obefazimod demonstrated favorable tolerability results, with no new safety signals observed. The treatment was generally well tolerated across both dose groups.
- The ABTECT Maintenance Trial (ABX464-107) is ongoing with top-line results expected to report out in Q2 2026. Among the 1,275 patients randomized in the induction trials, 678 achieved clinical response and enrolled into part 1 of the maintenance trial. The ABTECT program is one of the largest Phase 3 ulcerative colitis trials ever conducted.
Abivax to host a conference call and webcast today at4:30 p.m. EDT (10:30 p.m. CEST ) to discuss the results.
Topline Results
The ABTECT-1 and ABTECT-2 induction trials are global, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials assessing once-daily oral administration of obefazimod at 25 mg or 50 mg doses in adult patients with moderately to severely active UC. Eligible participants had inadequate response, loss of response, or intolerance to conventional and/or advanced therapies. ABTECT-1 and ABTECT-2 were conducted simultaneously and have enrolled 1,275 patients from over 600 participating clinical trial sites in 36 countries with the intent to satisfy regulatory requirements globally. The ABTECT Program is one of the largest Phase 3 ulcerative colitis trials ever conducted and includes the largest population of patients with inadequate response to JAK inhibitor therapy.
| FDA Primary Endpoint and Key Secondary Endpoints | ||||||
| ABTECT-1 (Study 105) | ABTECT-2 (Study 106) | |||||
| Placebo (N=158) | 25 mg (N=160) | 50 mg (N=318) | Placebo (N=159) | 25 mg (N=159) | 50 mg (N=318) | |
| Clinical Remission | ||||||
| Week 8 - n (%) | 4 (2.5%) | 38 (23.8%) | 69 (21.7%) | 10 (6.3%) | 18 (11.3%) | 63 (19.8%) |
| P value | <0.0001 | <0.0001 | 0.1034 | 0.0001 | ||
| Placebo-Adjusted ∆ | ∆21.4% | ∆19.3% | ∆5.1% | ∆13.4% | ||
| Endoscopic Improvement | ||||||
| Week 8 - n (%) | 9 (5.7%) | 60 (37.5%) | 106 (33.3%) | 16 (10.1%) | 35 (22.0%) | 113 (35.5%) |
| P value | <0.0001 | <0.0001 | 0.0029 | <0.0001 | ||
| Clinical Response | ||||||
| Week 8 - n (%) | 45 (28.5%) | 105 (65.6%) | 194 (61.0%) | 53 (33.3%) | 85 (53.5%) | 201 (63.2%) |
| P value | <0.0001 | <0.0001 | 0.0002 | <0.0001 | ||
| HEMI1 | ||||||
| Week 8 - n (%) | 5 (3.2%) | 38 (23.8%) | 73 (23.0%) | 12 (7.5%) | 21 (13.2%) | 76 (23.9%) |
| P value | <0.0001 | <0.0001 | 0.0932 | <0.0001 | ||
Results from the ABTECT-1 and ABTECT-2 trials demonstrated that obefazimod met its FDA primary endpoint of clinical remission at Week 8 in the 50 mg once-daily dose regimens for both trials. Individually, ABTECT-1 showed a placebo-adjusted clinical remission rate of 19.3% (p<0.0001) and ABTECT-2 demonstrated 13.4% (p=0.0001), each at the 50 mg once-daily dose, with all key secondary efficacy endpoints being met.
The 25 mg once-daily dose of obefazimod achieved the FDA primary endpoint of clinical remission at Week 8 in ABTECT-1 demonstrating a placebo-adjusted remission rate of 21.4%. While the 25 mg dose did not achieve statistical significance for this endpoint in ABTECT-2, it achieved a pooled placebo-adjusted clinical response rate of 28.6%, indicating a strong signal for these patients to achieve clinical remission with extended treatment in the maintenance trial.
The safety profile of obefazimod remained consistent with prior clinical experience. No new safety signals were observed in either trial and the treatment was generally well tolerated across both dose groups.
| Summary of Adverse Events | ||||||
| ABTECT-1 (Study 105) | ABTECT-2 (Study 106) | |||||
| Placebo (N=158) | 25 mg (N=160) | 50 mg (N=318) | Placebo (N=159) | 25 mg (N=159) | 50 mg (N=318) | |
| TEAE2, n (%) | ||||||
| Any TEAE | 84 (53.2%) | 75 (46.9%) | 189 (59.4%) | 77 (48.4%) | 81 (50.9%) | 194 (61.0%) |
| TEAE leading to study drug discontinuation | 6 (3.8%) | 0 (0.0%) | 17 (5.3%) | 9 (5.7%) | 8 (5.0%) | 15 (4.7%) |
| Serious TEAE | 3 (1.9%) | 1 (0.6%) | 14 (4.4%) | 7 (4.4%) | 6 (3.8%) | 6 (1.9%) |
| Malignancy | 0 (0.0%) | 0 (0.0%) | 1 (0.3%)* | 0 (0.0%) | 0 (0.0%) | 0 (0.0%) |
| Serious/severe (grade ≥3) infections and opportunistic infections | 1 (0.6%)¥ | 1 (0.6%)‡ | 2 (0.6%)† | 0 (0.0%) | 0 (0.0%) | 2 (0.6%)δ |
Ongoing ABTECT Phase 3 Maintenance Trial:
- Maintenance Trial: 678 of 1,275 participants entered Part 1, the responder cohort.
- Topline maintenance results are expected in Q2 2026, which are intended to support regulatory filings globally.
- Regulatory Strategy: Contingent on positive 44-week maintenance results,
Abivax intends to submit a New Drug Application (“NDA”) to theU.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and a Marketing Authorization Application (“MAA”) to theEuropean Medicines Agency (EMA) in the second half of 2026.
Please note that the Company will be postponing reporting H1 2025 financial results that were originally scheduled for
Investor Conference Call and Webcast
https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/9ode93zk/
About the ABTECT Ulcerative Colitis Program
The global obefazimod ulcerative colitis program evaluates more than 1,200 patients with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis across three pivotal trials. These studies include assessments of efficacy and safety of obefazimod. More information on these trials can be found at www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT05507203, NCT05507216, NCT05535946).
About
Contact:
SVP, Investor Relations
patrick.malloy@abivax.com
+1 847 987 4878
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release contains forward-looking statements, forecasts and estimates, including those relating to the Company’s business and financial objectives. Words such as “anticipate,” “expect,” “potential” and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include statements concerning the Company’s anticipated timing for NDA and MAA submissions, the potential therapeutic benefit of obefazimod and the timing of release of its half-year 2025 financials. Although Abivax’s management believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, investors are cautioned that forward-looking information and statements are subject to various risks, contingencies and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond the control of
1HEMI = Histological Endoscopic Mucosal Improvement
2 TEAE = Treatment Emergent Adverse Events; The final safety database lock will not occur until
¥ Bronchopulmonary aspergillosis; ‡ Appendicitis; δ Anal abscess, pneumonia
3 The preliminary cash and cash equivalents as of

Source: Abivax