JAK inhibitors show promising efficacy in rheumatoid arthritis treatment

A retrospective multicenter study conducted by Japanese researchers has found that Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors, a class of drugs used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, are highly effective. Traditionally, patients with rheumatoid arthritis have been treated with biological disease-modifying drugs, often administered through subcutaneous or intravenous routes. However, these treatments can become less effective over time.

JAK inhibitors offer a promising alternative, as they can be taken orally. Previous randomized controlled trials have demonstrated their efficacy and safety, but concerns have been raised about their real-world effectiveness, particularly in patients with additional health problems that may affect their response to conventional treatments.

In this study, researchers analyzed data from 622 patients treated at seven major university hospitals in Japan. They compared the effectiveness and safety of four common JAK inhibitors: tofacitinib, baricitinib, peficitinib, and upadacitinib.

The findings revealed that around one in three patients achieved remission, while three in four achieved at least low disease activity, indicating significant efficacy. More than 80% of patients continued to use JAK inhibitors after six months, highlighting the drugs' long-term effectiveness. Notably, JAK inhibitors do not typically result in immunological secondary treatment failure, a common issue with other treatments like methotrexate, where adverse immune responses can diminish efficacy.

Reference: Real-world comparative study of the efficacy of Janus kinase inhibitors in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: the ANSWER cohort study, Rheumatology, DOI: 10.1093/rheumatology/kead543