Etrasimod

Etrasimod, sold under the brand name Velsipity, is a medication that is used for the treatment of ulcerative colitis. It is a selective sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) receptor modulator that modifies the activity of the immune system. It is taken by mouth.

The most common side effects include lymphopenia (low levels of lymphocytes) and headache.

Etrasimod was discovered by Arena Pharmaceuticals, with subsequent development by Pfizer. Etrasimod was approved for medical use in the United States in October 2023, and in the European Union in February 2024.

Medical uses
Etrasimod is used for the treatment of moderate to severe ulcerative colitis.

Mechanism of action
It works by causing T cells to become trapped in the lymph nodes, preventing them from entering the bloodstream, from where they would travel to other tissues in the body and mediate inflammation.

Legal status
Velsipity was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in October 2023.

In December 2023, the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) adopted a positive opinion, recommending the granting of a marketing authorization for the medicinal product Velsipity, intended for the treatment of ulcerative colitis. The applicant for this medicinal product is Pfizer Europe MA EEIG. Etrasimod was approved for medical use in the European Union in February 2024.

Names
Etrasimod is the international nonproprietary name.