Efficacy and Safety of Upadacitinib for Active Ankylosing Spondylitis Refractory to Biological Therapy: A Double-blind, Randomised, Placebo-controlled Phase 3 Trial

Van der Heijde et al., carried out a study to show whether upadacitinib offers an effective treatment option for bDMARD-naïve and bDMARD-IR patients with active AS. Their results indicated that upadacitinib 15 mg significantly improved the signs and symptoms of active AS. The treatment was well tolerated for 14 weeks in bDMARD-IR patients, consistent with results observed in the upadacitinib AS bDMARD-naïve study.

The study met all endpoints at week 14. Results showed that statistically significant improvements in disease activity, function and pain were achieved among upadacitinib-treated patients. Upadacitinib also improved objective signs of inflammation. Other clinically relevant domains significantly improved with upadacitinib treatment including quality of life, spinal mobility and enthesitis.