Abivax has presented new preclinical and clinical data for obefazimod at the European Crohn’s and Colitis Organization’s (ECCO) 21st Annual Congress, highlighting anti-fibrotic activity in Crohn’s disease alongside evidence of rapid symptom relief and a favourable safety profile.

The company reported that anti-fibrotic effects were observed in both a preclinical human fibroblast model and an in vivo animal model, suggesting potential to address a key unmet need in Crohn’s disease. Pooled analyses from the ABTECT-1 and ABTECT-2 induction trials also demonstrated that obefazimod was well tolerated, with rates of serious treatment emergent adverse events and study discontinuation similar to placebo. Symptomatic improvements were noted early, with response observed as soon as week 1 and symptomatic remission at week 2 (nominally significant p-value <0.05).

Biomarker analyses from the trials supported obefazimod’s mechanism of action, showing upregulation of miR-124 and reductions in inflammatory cytokines including IL-17A and IL-6 toward homeostatic levels. These findings reinforce the drug’s potential to restore immune balance in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Marc de Garidel, chief executive officer of Abivax, said the ECCO data reinforced the compound’s differentiated profile, noting that “the anti-fibrotic findings, taken together with the additional clinical efficacy, safety, and biomarker data presented, strengthen our confidence in obefazimod’s potential across UC and CD.” He added that the company remains focused on translating the data into real-world benefits as Phase 3 maintenance and Phase 2b ENHANCE-CD trial readouts approach in 2026.

Fabio Cataldi, chief medical officer of Abivax, added that “the emerging preclinical evidence of anti-fibrotic activity is particularly compelling, as fibrosis remains an area of profound unmet need. Combined with the favourable safety and tolerability profile of obefazimod, we believe this growing evidence base positions obefazimod as a compelling oral therapy with the potential to address multiple dimensions of disease not yet fully managed by current therapies.”

Overall, the ECCO presentations—22 abstracts in total—illustrate the depth of data supporting obefazimod’s potential in inflammatory bowel disease, reinforcing its anti-fibrotic effects, rapid symptomatic benefit, and mechanism-based biomarker profile.