1. What are the side effects?
3. How are these medications different from other IBD treatments?
4. Will it lose its effectiveness over time?
5. How do the results compare to other medications?
2. What is known about this medication long term?
FAQs About S1Ps, Answered
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People who take S1P receptor modulators most commonly experience adverse reactions that included elevated liver tests, upper respiratory infections, and headaches.
A study published in January 2021 in the Journal of Crohn’s and Colitis showed that S1P receptor modulators were safe and effective when taken by people with ulcerative colitis for up to four years. Improvement in symptoms occurred over the first two years of treatment.
S1P receptor modulators are the only ulcerative colitis drug category that works on S1P molecules. It is an oral drug, unlike some medications, which are given by infusion or injection.
Although longer-term studies are still needed, S1P receptor modulators are not expected to wane in effectiveness like some other ulcerative colitis drugs do. One possible reason: People are unlikely to develop antibodies against the medication.
The results of clinical trials showed S1P receptor modulators improved symptoms in about half of patients, and 15 percent achieved remission, says Moss. These results were better than a placebo, but in patients who were already treated with an anti-TNF, the results were not as high (37 percent and 10 percent, respectively), he says.
