TL1A Inhibitors in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: New Clinical Insights and Access Considerations for Managed Care and Specialty Pharmacy

Program Description

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn disease (CD), is a major driver of health care utilization, lost productivity, and reduced quality of life. Although UC and CD differ in many ways, both are marked by relapsing inflammation, and remission remains difficult for many patients despite an expanding range of biologics and small molecules. As a result, flares can lead to hospitalization, corticosteroid exposure, and long-term disability, reinforcing the need to align therapy with treat-to-target goals and address persistent unmet needs. Emerging TNF-like ligand 1A (TL1A) inhibitors represent a new targeted therapeutic strategy for patients with moderate to severe UC and CD, with clinical trial data indicating potential activity on inflammatory and fibrotic pathways. As TL1A inhibitors near potential market entry, pharmacists and managed care stakeholders will need a shared framework to use trial evidence to guide patient selection, monitoring workflows, and coverage and care pathway decisions. This session will review key differentiators between UC and CD, summarize current treatment targets and gaps, and provide an overview of TL1A inhibition and the evolving pipeline. A managed care lens will be emphasized through discussion of the economic burden of IBD and the downstream costs of relapse, including acute care utilization and treatment escalation.

Target audience: Specialty pharmacists, Managed care pharmacists

Type of Activity: Application

Release date: May 11, 2026

Expiration date: May 11, 2027

Learner level: Foundational

Time to complete activity: 1.5 hour

Fee: Free

Educational Objectives

At the completion of this activity, participants will be able to:

• Differentiate ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn disease (CD), including STRIDE-II treatment targets and unmet needs with current therapies
• Explain the mechanism of action of TNF-like ligand 1A inhibitors
• Investigate the clinical and economic burden of inflammatory bowel disease, including relapse-related costs, to inform resource utilization and access strategies