Join us as leading experts discuss key data and perspectives from the late-breaking sessions at this year’s DDW meeting
Digestive Disease Week (DDW) 2026 took place in Chicago from May 2–5, bringing together global experts in gastroenterology, hepatology, endoscopy, and gastrointestinal surgery. The meeting showcased a wide range of clinical and translational research, including late-breaking data, novel therapeutics, and emerging technologies, alongside interactive sessions designed to advance understanding and improve patient care.
Explore our interviews with leading experts below, covering new mechanistic insights and clinical trial data in ulcerative colitis, eosinophilic esophagitis, Crohn’s disease and related inflammatory diseases, including biologic therapies, novel dual-pathway approaches, and long-term efficacy and safety findings across recent phase 2 and 3 studies.
touchIMMUNOLOGY coverage of DDW 2026
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Guselkumab demonstrates sustained efficacy & safety
Crohn’s disease
A long-term extension study of the phase 3 GALAXI 2 & 3 trials investigating guselkumab in Crohn’s disease is ongoing, with Week 96 results recently presented at DDW 2026. In this interview, Prof. Remo Panaccione discusses the role of guselkumab in the treatment paradigm for CD, along with the study aims, design, and Week 96 outcomes, including in patients who had maintenance dose adjustment.
→ Read: GALAXI: Long-term outcomes of guselkumab following maintenance dose adjustment
New data demonstrate the biologic effects of afimkibart
ulcerative colitis
The phase 2b, placebo-controlled TUSCANY-2 study investigated afimkibart, a TL1A inhibitor, for the treatment of ulcerative colitis. In this Q&A, Maggie Neighbors outlines the mechanism of action of afimkibart and the aims and design of the study, including the application of high-sensitivity serum proteomics, and discusses the study’s key findings and how they extend previous data.
→ Read: Afimkibart in ulcerative colitis: Biological insights from the phase 2b TUSCANY-2 study
Dupilumab’s early efficacy in esophageal remodelling
eosinophilic esophagitis
EoE is a progressive inflammatory disease that can lead to fibrostenotic remodeling and esophageal narrowing if left untreated. In this interview, Dr Evan Dellon discusses disease progression, the role of dupilumab in EoE, and the phase 4 REMODEL trial, evaluating whether IL-4/IL-13 blockade can improve esophageal distensibility and influence structural disease changes.
→ Read: Impact of dupilumab on esophageal remodeling in EoE: 24-week REMODEL findings
Efficacy and safety of ustekinumab in a pediatric population
ulcerative colitis
Ustekinumab is an IL-12/IL-23 inhibitor being evaluated in pediatric ulcerative colitis (UC), where treatment options remain limited. In this Q&A, Dr Jeffrey Hyams discusses the need for additional mechanisms beyond anti-TNF therapy in children with UC, the rationale and design of the phase 3 UNIFI Jr study, and the key efficacy and safety findings.
→ Read: Ustekinumab in pediatric ulcerative colitis: Phase 3 UNIFI Jr efficacy and safety results
First co-antibody therapy investigated for refractory UC
ulcerative colitis
Early data from the phase 2b DUET-UC trial suggest the first co-antibody therapy JNJ-78934804 may offer a new strategy for treatment-refractory ulcerative colitis by simultaneously targeting TNF and IL-23 pathways. In an interview, Dr Maria T. Abreu discusses unmet needs in UC, the rationale for dual-pathway inhibition, and the design and key outcomes of the study.
→ Read: Dual-antibody strategy shows promise in refractory UC in the DUET-UC phase 2b trial
Tulisokibart 50-week efficacy findings from phase 2 study
ulcerative colitis
ARTEMIS-UC is a phase 2, double-blind, placebo-controlled study investigating tulisokibart in participants with moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis (UC). In this Q&A, we spoke with Dr Christopher Ma explores the mechanism of action of tulisokibart, the aims, design and key findings from the phase 2 ARTEMIS-UC study, and the significance of the Week 50 results.
→ Read: Tulisokibart in ulcerative colitis: Phase 2 results and sustained efficacy through Week 50
This content has been developed independently by Touch Medical Media for touchIMMUNOLOGY. Views expressed are the speaker’s own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Touch Medical Media.
Cite: Digesting DDW 2026: Expert perspectives from Chicago. touchIMMUNOLOGY. 22 May 2026.
Editor: Victoria Smith, Senior Content Editor.
