March 2024

Abatacept inhibits inflammation and onset of rheumatoid arthritis in individuals at high risk (ARIAA): A randomised, international, multicentre, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Lancet 2024;403(10429):850–859 doi 10.1016/S0140-6736(23)02650-8

This study by Rech, et al. shows that 6-month treatment with abatacept was associated with a decrease in MRI inflammation, clinical symptoms, and risk of RA development in participants at high risk. The effects of the intervention persist through a 1-year drug-free observation phase.

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Comparative Effectiveness of Tofacitinib and Tumour Necrosis Factor Inhibitors in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis in Real-world Practice: A Prospective Observational Study

doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/keae109 Epub ahead of print

This study by Cho, et al. did not find any significant differences in remission rates in South Korean patients with RA that were treated with tofacitinib versus TNFi in a real-world setting. Remission rates were significantly higher for patients naïve to both JAKi and bDMARDs treated with tofacitinib versus TNFi.

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January 2024

Cardiovascular Safety of Janus Kinase Inhibitor Therapy in a Multi-ethnic Population

Musculoskeletal Care 2023 doi 10.1002/msc.1853 Epub ahead of print

This study by Sunmboye, et al. investigated the relationship between CV event incidence and age in a multi-ethnic population that received JAK inhibitor therapy. They concluded that JAK inhibitor therapy was generally safe in a multi-ethnic population with a large age range, but they did find a statistically significant but numerically small positive correlation between age and CV incidence

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Efficacy of Pharmacological Interventions: A Systematic Review Informing the 2023 EULAR Recommendations for the Management of Fatigue in People with Inflammatory Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Diseases

RMD Open 2023;9(4):e003349 doi 10.1136/rmdopen-2023-003349

Adalimumab demonstrated superiority over placebo in reducing fatigue in RA at 12 and 52 weeks. Other interventions, which included golimumab, baricitinib, sarilumab, tocilizumab, and tofacitinib, also proved effective in reducing fatigue in patients with RA. Secukinumab also reduced fatigue by Week 52 in patients with SpA.

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2023 EULAR Recommendations for the Management of Fatigue in People with Inflammatory Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Diseases

Ann Rheum Dis 2023 doi 10.1136/ard-2023-224514 Epub ahead of print

These recommendations from EULAR provide consensus and up-to-date guidance on fatigue management in people with I-RMDs, which includes advice regarding pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions.

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Filgotinib Demonstrates Efficacy in Rheumatoid Arthritis Independent of Smoking Status: Post Hoc Analysis of Phase 3 Trials and Claims-Based Analysis)

Rheumatol Ther 2023;11(1):177–189 doi 10.1007/s40744-023-00619-0

This post hoc analysis by Curtis, et al. found that current and former smokers were more likely to switch from an anti-TNF bDMARD to a different bDMARD or JAK inhibitor in comparison to non-smokers. They also found that DAS28(CRP) ≤3.2 achievement was significantly higher after filgotinib therapy regardless of smoking status in MTX-IR, bDMARD-IR, and MTX-naïve patients.

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December 2023

Rheumatoid Arthritis Disease Activity and Adverse Events in Patients Receiving Tofacitinib or Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitors: A Post Hoc Analysis of ORAL Surveillance

Ther Adv Musculoskelet Dis. 2023;15:1759720X231201047 doi: 10.1177/1759720X231201047

Post hoc analysis of ORAL Surveillance data highlights that active disease in RA leads to higher risk of adverse medical events, regardless of medication used.

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Real-world Comparative Study of the Efficacy of Janus Kinase Inhibitors in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: The ANSWER Cohort Study

Rheumatology 2023 doi 10.1093/rheumatology/kead543

This multicentre, retrospective study by Hayashi, et al. found no significant differences in efficacy and safety between tofacitinib, baricitinib, peficitinib and upadacitinib in patients with RA. Predictive factors for resistance to LDA achievement included baseline CRP and CDAI for tofacitinib and baseline glucocorticoid dose, baseline CDAI and number of previous b/tsDMARDs for baricitinib.

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MACE and VTE across Upadacitinib Clinical Trial Programmes in Rheumatoid Arthritis, Psoriatic Arthritis and Ankylosing Spondylitis

RMD Open 2023; 9(4):e003392 doi 10.1136/rmdopen-2023-003392

Rates of MACE and VTE events in patients with RA or PsA treated are consistent across 15 mg and 30 mg doses of upadacitinib, and comparable with active comparators adalimumab and MTX. Several risk factors were also identified for MACE and VTE events in patients with RA.

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Malignancy in the Upadacitinib Clinical Trials for Rheumatoid Arthritis, Psoriatic Arthritis, Ankylosing Spondylitis, and Non-radiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis

Rheumatol Ther 2023;11(1):97–112 doi 10.1007/s40744-023-00621-6

Rates of malignancy were similar between upadacitinib, adalimumab, and MTX. They were also consistent across RA, PsA, AS and nr-axSpA. A dose-dependent increased rate of NMSC was observed with upadacitinib in RA. For RA and PsA, being older (≥65 years) and male was associated with
an increased risk of malignancy excluding NMSC.

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