A Trial of Upadacitinib for Non-responsive Eosinophilic Esophagitis (ATUNE)

A Trial of Upadacitinib for Non-responsive Eosinophilic Esophagitis (ATUNE)

The goal of this study is to find out if a medication called upadacitinib can help treat a condition called Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE).

The main question it aims to answer are:

- Does upadacitinib in addition to topical corticosteroids help reduce EoE disease activity?

Participants will:

• Take upadacitinib or placebo every day for 12 weeks, followed by 12 weeks of upadacitinib
• Fill out surveys and answer health questions
• Visit the clinic every 4 weeks for checkups and tests

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Eosinophilic Esophagitis; Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE); EoE
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Upadacitinib 30mg Dose; Other: Upadacitinib Matching Placebo

Detailed Description

The goal of this study is to find out if a medication called upadacitinib can help treat a condition called Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE). This study has different parts. In the first part of the study, some people get the real medicine and some people get a "placebo," which is a pill with no medicine in it. These groups are decided by chance. In the second part of the study, everyone gets the real medication.

After screening, qualified participants will be randomly assigned to receive either the medicine or placebo and start taking the medicine. Participants will come to the clinic for a visit every 4 weeks and have a physical exam, blood tests, answer health questions, and complete surveys.

The first 12-weeks of the study treatment are "blinded," meaning participants and the study team won't know who gets the real medicine and who gets the placebo. The next 12 weeks are "open-label," meaning everyone gets upadacitinib. After each 12-week part, participants will have an upper endoscopy (esophagogastroduodenoscopy; EGD) to check on EoE disease activity.

30 days after the final EGD, participants will have a final checkup.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 52
• Phase: Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Lindsay Cortright, MA; Phone Number: 919-445-4911; Email: lindsay_cortright@med.unc.edu
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Susan Moist, MPH; Phone Number: 919-918-5900; Email: susan_moist@med.unc.edu

Study Locations

• United States
  • North Carolina
    • Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States, 27599
      • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
      • Contact: Julia Phillips; Phone Number: (919) 843-4453; Email: julia_phillips@med.unc.edu
      • Contact: Hannah Larson; Phone Number: 919-966-2996; Email: hannah_larson@med.unc.edu
      • Principal Investigator: Evan S Dellon, MD, MPH
    • Durham, North Carolina, United States, 27710
      • Duke University
      • Contact: Christy Walters; Phone Number: 919-668-5499; Email: Christy.walters@duke.edu
      • Principal Investigator: David Leiman, MD, MSHP

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age 18-65 years.
2. Diagnosis of EoE per 2018 AGREE consensus guidelines.
3. Currently using topical corticosteroids (TCS) for EoE treatment (either swallowed budesonide, ≥2mg total daily dose or swallowed fluticasone, ≥1760 mcg total daily dose) for at least 8 weeks (prior to the screening endoscopy) and willing to remain on the same TCS treatment with no changes to regimen throughout the study.
4. Have active esophageal eosinophilia (peak eosinophil count ≥15 eos/hpf [eosinophils per high power field]) as measured during the screening endoscopy despite ongoing therapy with TCS.
5. Have active symptoms of esophageal dysfunction attributed to EoE (such as trouble swallowing, heartburn, reflux, vomiting, chest pain, painful swallowing, abdominal pain, malnutrition, etc.) in the 4 weeks prior to the screening endoscopy.
6. Willing to continue all current EoE treatments (including medications such as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), diet elimination, etc.) throughout participation in the study.
7. Able to read, comprehend, and sign consent form.
8. Ability to take oral medication (swallow a pill) and be willing to adhere to the study regimen (follow dosing instructions and complete study procedures).

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Use of systemic corticosteroids (such as prednisone or methylprednisolone) within 4 weeks of the screening endoscopy.
2. Use of dupilumab (dupixent) within 3 months of the screening endoscopy.
3. Use of estrogen (including estrogen-containing contraceptives and other hormonal treatments) within 30 days of screening.
4. Previous esophageal resection.
5. Medical instability making it unsafe to perform an upper endoscopy.

6. At the Screening / Baseline or Enrollment Visit, meeting any of the following conditions:

   6.1. Two or more prior episodes of herpes zoster (shingles), or one or more episodes of disseminated herpes zoster;

   6.2. One or more prior episodes of disseminated herpes simplex (including eczema herpeticum);

   6.3. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, defined as confirmed positive anti-HIV antibody (HIV Ab) test or a positive HIV Ab/Ag test;

   6.4. Active tuberculosis (TB) or latent TB, or meet TB exclusionary parameters;

   6.5. Active infection(s) requiring treatment with intravenous (IV) anti-infectives within 30 days, or oral/intramuscular anti-infectives within 14 days prior to the visit;

   6.6. Active diverticulitis within the past 3 months;

   6.7. Chronic recurring infection and/or active viral infection that, based on the investigator's clinical assessment, makes the participant an unsuitable candidate for the study;

   6.8. COVID-19 infection: In participants who tested positive for COVID-19, at least 5 days must have passed between a COVID-19 positive test result and the visit of asymptomatic participants. Participants with mild/moderate COVID-19 infection can be enrolled if fever is resolved without use of antipyretics (fever reducers such as ibuprofen, aspirin, and paracetamol) for 24 hours and other symptoms improved, or if 5 days have passed since the COVID-19 positive test result (whichever comes last). Participants may be rescreened if deemed appropriate by the investigator based upon the participant's health status.

   6.9. Hepatitis B (HBV) and Hepatitis C (HCV) screening values that meet the following criteria at the most recent testing prior to the first dose of study drug:

   6.9.1. HBV: hepatitis B surface antigen (HBs Ag) positive (+) test or detectable HBV deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) qualitative test for participants who are hepatitis B core antibody (HBc Ab) positive (+);

   6.9.2. HCV: detectable HCV ribonucleic acid (RNA) in any participant with anti-HCV antibody (HCV Ab).

7. At the Screening / Baseline or Enrollment visit, any of the following medical diseases or disorders:

   7.1. Prior history of

   • cerebrovascular accident (stroke),
   • myocardial infarction (heart attack),
   • coronary stenting,
   • coronary bypass surgery (heart bypass surgery),
   • or thrombotic events including deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE);

   7.2. History of an organ transplant which requires continued immunosuppression;

   7.3. History of an allergic reaction or significant sensitivity to constituents of the study drug (and its excipients) and/or other products in the same class;

   7.4. History of GI perforation (other than due to appendicitis or mechanical injury), diverticulitis, or significantly increased risk for GI perforation per investigator judgment;

   7.5. Conditions that could interfere with drug absorption including but not limited to short bowel syndrome or gastric bypass surgery; participants with a history of gastric banding/segmentation (such as Lap Band or Realize Band) are not excluded;

   7.6. History of malignancy except for successfully treated non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) or localized carcinoma in situ of the cervix;

   7.7. Current uncontrolled hypertension defined as a confirmed systolic blood pressure ≥140 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mmHg;

   7.8. Known inherited or acquired conditions that predispose to hypercoagulability;

   7.9. Current or past smokers;

   7.10. In patients 50 years of age and older:

   • High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol level of <40mg per deciliter,
   • Diabetes mellitus,
   • Family history of premature coronary heart disease,
   • Extraarticular rheumatoid arthritis.

   7.11. Severe hepatic impairment (i.e., Child Pugh C cirrhosis).

8. Participants of child-bearing potential who do not meet the following:

   8.1. Participants must not have a positive serum pregnancy test (blood test) at the Screening Visit and must have a negative urine pregnancy test at the Enrollment visit prior to the first dose of study drug.

   8.2. Participants with an abnormal or inconclusive serum pregnancy test at Screening must have absence of clinical suspicion of pregnancy or other pathological causes and a serum pregnancy test ≥ 3 days later to document continued lack of a positive result.

   8.3. Participants with a urine pregnancy test at the Enrollment visit that is borderline or ambiguous must have a serum pregnancy test performed. In such cases, the participant must be excluded from participation if the serum pregnancy result is positive.

   8.4. Participants of childbearing potential who are not able and/or willing to practice at least 1 protocol-specified method of birth control that is highly effective throughout participation in the study (from Screening through at least 30 days after the last dose of study drug. Use of estrogen-containing contraception is not allowable. Participants of non-childbearing potential do not need to use birth control.

9. Participants who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or considering becoming pregnant during the study and for 30 days after the last dose of study drug.
10. Participants who received treatment with any investigational drug of chemical or biologic nature within 30 days or five half-lives (whichever is longer) prior to the screening endoscopy or who are currently enrolled in another interventional clinical study.
11. Participants with systemic use of known strong cytochrome P450 3A (CYP3A) inhibitors or strong CYP3A inducers within 30 days or five half-lives (whichever is longer) of the screening endoscopy through the end of study participation: Herbal therapies and other traditional medicines with unknown effect on CYP3A taken systemically are prohibited within 30 days prior to the screening endoscopy and throughout the study. Herbal therapies and other traditional medicines are defined as any herbal formulation intended to treat or prevent health problems and may include supplements based on which herbs the participant is taking.
12. Participants who have received any live vaccine with replicating potential within 30 days prior to the first dose of study drug or have expected need of vaccination with any live vaccine with replicating potential during study participation including at least 30 days after the last dose of study drug. Live vaccines that are incapable of replicating are permitted.

13. Screening laboratory values that meet the following criteria at the most recent testing prior to the first dose of study drug:

    13.1. Serum aspartate transaminase (AST) > 2 × upper limit of normal (ULN); 13.2. Serum alanine transaminase (ALT) > 2 × ULN; 13.3. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) by simplified 4-variable Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) formula < 30 mL/min/1.73 m2; 13.4. Total white blood cell (WBC) count < 2,500/µL; 13.5. Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) < 1,200/µL; 13.6. Platelet count < 100,000/µL; 13.7. Absolute lymphocyte count < 750/µL; 13.8. Hemoglobin < 9 g/dL.

14. Known allergic reaction, significant sensitivity, or intolerance to Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors or their components
15. History of or current clinically significant medical or psychiatric conditions or any other reason that in the opinion of the Investigator would interfere with the participant's participation in this study, would place the participant at risk by participating in the study or would make the participant an unsuitable candidate to receive study drug.
16. Inability to read or understand English.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: Quadruple

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Upadacitinib 30mg; Participants randomly assigned to this arm will receive the active drug for the entire 24 week treatment period. During the first 12 weeks, participants will receive blinded upadacitinib 30mg daily (meaning the participant and study team will not know which medication the participant receives) followed by open-label upadacitinib 30mg daily for 12 weeks.	Drug: Upadacitinib 30mg Dose; Upadacitinib 30mg oral tablet. Participants randomly assigned to receive upadacitinib will take upadacitinib 30mg daily throughout the study. Participants randomly assigned to receive placebo will receive upadacitinib for 12 weeks after completing the 12 week blinded treatment period.; Other Names: RINVOQ; upadacitinib
Other: Placebo, followed by Upadacitinib 30mg; Participants randomly assigned to this arm will receive placebo for 12 weeks, followed by upadacitinib 30mg for 12 weeks. During the first 12 weeks, participants will receive blinded placebo daily (meaning the participant and study team will not know which medication the participant receives) followed by open-label upadacitinib 30mg daily for 12 weeks.	Drug: Upadacitinib 30mg Dose; Upadacitinib 30mg oral tablet. Participants randomly assigned to receive upadacitinib will take upadacitinib 30mg daily throughout the study. Participants randomly assigned to receive placebo will receive upadacitinib for 12 weeks after completing the 12 week blinded treatment period.; Other Names: RINVOQ; upadacitinib; Other: Upadacitinib Matching Placebo; Oral tablet matching in size, shape, color, and taste to the study intervention (upadacitinib). Participants randomly assigned to receive placebo will receive upadacitinib matching placebo for 12 weeks, followed by a 12 week open label treatment period where all participants will receive upadacitinib 30mg.; Other Names: Placebo

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Peak eosinophil count (measured in eos/hpf) after 12-weeks of treatment	Peak eosinophil count (number of eosinophils per high power field (eos/hpf)) will be measured at 12-weeks post-treatment via esophageal biopsy during the study endoscopy. Eosinophil counts will be determined centrally by the study pathologist using a validated protocol.	At 12-weeks post-treatment

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Key Secondary Outcome: Post-treatment EoE histologic scoring system (HSS) after 12-weeks of treatment	The EoE Histologic Scoring System (EoEHSS) score ranges from 0-1, with higher scores indicating greater histologic severity. This study will compare both grade (most severe area) and stage (extent of involvement) parameters of the HSS. EoEHSS will be assessed centrally by the study pathologist.	At 12-weeks post-treatment
Post-treatment EoE Endoscopic Reference Score (EREFS) after 12-weeks of treatment	EREFS ranges from 0-9, with higher scores indicating greater endoscopic severity. EREFS will be assessed during endoscopy by the endoscopist.	At 12-weeks post-treatment
Proportion of participants with histologic response (<15, ≤ 6, and ≤ 1 eos/hpf) after 12-weeks of treatment.	Proportion (percentage) of participants who achieve histologic response at each threshold (<15 eosinophils per high power field (eos/hpf), ≤ 6 eos/hpf, and ≤ 1 eos/hpf) after 12-weeks of treatment. All eosinophil counts will be performed centrally by the study pathologist.	12-weeks post-treatment
Mean change in dysphagia as measured by the EoE Symptom Activity Index (EEsAI) from baseline to 12-weeks post-treatment	EEsAI is a validated patient-reported outcome instrument which measures symptoms of dysphagia over a 7-day recall period. EEsAI scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more severe symptoms.	From screening/baseline to 12-weeks post-treatment
Minimum esophageal diameter as measured using the Endoluminal Functional Lumen Imaging Probe (EndoFLIP) after 12-weeks of treatment	EndoFLIP measures esophageal compliance and distensibility, and yields a measurement of the minimum esophageal diameter (in mm). This will be performed during endoscopy by the endoscopist.	At 12-weeks post-treatment
Esophageal distensibility plateau as measured on EndoFLIP after 12-weeks of treatment	EndoFLIP measures esophageal compliance and distensibility, and yields a measurement of the minimum esophageal diameter (in mm). This will be performed during endoscopy by the endoscopist.	At 12-weeks post-treatment

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
• Collaborators: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK); AbbVie
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Evan S Dellon, MD, MPH, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): July 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): February 1, 2030
• Study Completion (Estimated): June 1, 2030

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 6, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 6, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): May 15, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 15, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 6, 2026
• Last Verified: May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Eosinophilic Esophagitis; EoE; upadacitinib; rinvoq
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Immune System Diseases; Digestive System Diseases; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Hypersensitivity, Immediate; Hypersensitivity; Eosinophilia; Leukocyte Disorders; Hematologic Diseases; Esophageal Diseases; Gastroenteritis; Esophagitis; Hemic and Lymphatic Diseases; Eosinophilic Esophagitis; upadacitinib
• Other Study ID Numbers: 25-2673; 1R01DK146043-01 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: YES
• IPD Plan Description: This study will adhere to the NIH Grant Policy on Sharing of Unique Research Resources including the Sharing of Biomedical Research Resources Principles and Guidelines for Recipients of NIH Grants and Contracts.
• IPD Sharing Time Frame: Deidentified individual data that supports the results will be shared beginning 9 to 36 months following publication provided the investigator who proposes to use the data has approval from an Institutional Review Board (IRB), Independent Ethics Committee (IEC), or Research Ethics Board (REB), as applicable, and executes a data use/sharing agreement with University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC).

IPD Sharing Access Criteria

When data sharing is permitted, a Data Use Agreement (DUA) specifying the uses of such data to be shared must be in place before any data is shared. Requests can be submitted to the UNC Office of Industry Contracting for processing. The Principal Investigator must confirm that the DUA has been fully executed and IRB, IEC, or REB approval has been granted before sharing data. For further information on DUAs, please refer to the Data Use Agreement Guidance: https://osp.unc.edu/contracting/contracting/.

Any questions about data sharing may be directed to the sponsor-investigator, Evan Dellon, at evan_dellon@med.unc.edu.

• IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type: STUDY_PROTOCOL; SAP; ICF; ANALYTIC_CODE

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: Yes
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No