October marked a breakthrough month for gastroenterology — one defined by fresh FDA approvals, promising IBD trial data, and pivotal updates from ACG 2025. Upadacitinib (Rinvoq) can now be prescribed earlier in the IBD treatment sequence when TNF blockers aren’t suitable, expanding therapeutic flexibility for patients. Meanwhile, mirikizumab (Omvoh) gained approval for a simplified single-dose monthly regimen in ulcerative colitis, with new four-year data from the LUCENT-3 study showing durable benefit even among patients who failed prior biologics.
Beyond IBD, the American College of Physicians issued new guidance on colorectal cancer screening performance measures, and ACG 2025 sessions spotlighted persistent disparities in GLP-1 RA trial enrollment as well as dupilumab’s growing dominance in eosinophilic esophagitis care.