November 2024

Relationship between lymphocyte count and risk of infection in Japanese rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with tofacitinib

Modern Rheumatology 2024;34:1115–24 doi: 10.1093/mr/roae030

Tanaka et al. observed that in Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with tofacitinib, those with absolute lymphocyte counts (ALCs) <0.5x10³ cells/mm³ had a higher risk of serious infections and herpes zoster events compared to patients with higher ALC levels. This threshold may help identify increased infection risk in this population

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July 2024

The outcomes of children born to mothers with autoimmune rheumatic diseases

Lancet Rheumatol 2024:S2665-9913(24)00096-1 doi: 10.1016/S2665-9913(24)00096-1 Epub ahead of print

This Series paper by Andreoli, et al. provides a comprehensive overview of the literature for pregnancy outcomes for mothers with autoimmune rheumatic disease, and provides guidance on discussing these topics with patients. They also provide a list of frequently asked questions related to pregnancy and children by women with autoimmune rheumatic diseases.

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June 2024

Integrated safety analysis of filgotinib in patients with moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis over a treatment duration of up to 8.3 years

Ann Rheum Dis 2024;0:1–8 doi: 10.1136/ard-2024-225759 Epub ahead of print

Burmester, et al. found that long-term filgotinib exposure was well tolerated in patients with moderate-to-severe active RA, with a stable rate of TEAEs over time. However, potential dose-dependent relationships for herpes zoster infections, malignancies and all-cause mortality were observed in patients aged ≥65 years, indicating the potential impact of age on the safety profile of Filgotinib. Therefore, some patients aged ≥65 years may benefit from the filgotinib 100 mg dose option.

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May 2024

Janus kinase inhibitors and tumour necrosis factor inhibitors show a favourable safety profile and similar persistence in rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and spondyloarthritis: Real-world data from the BIOBADASER registry

Ann Rheum Dis 2024 doi: 10.1136/ard-2023-225271 Epub ahead of print

Results of this analysis by Hernández-Cruz, et al. show that infections, herpes zoster and gastrointestinal AEs in patients with RA tended to be more frequent with JAKi treatment versus TNFi. They also found that treatment persistence was similar with JAKi and TNFi in patients with RA and axSpA, and only slightly higher for TNFi in patients with PsA.

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Mirikizumab as induction and maintenance therapy for ulcerative colitis

N Engl J Med 2023;388(26):2444–2455 doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2207940

Mirikizumab was more effective than placebo in inducing and maintaining clinical remission in patients with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis. D’Haens, et al. also noted that opportunistic infections and cancer developed in a small number of mirikizumab-treated patients.

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April 2024

Bimekizumab safety in patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis: pooled data from up to 3 years of treatment in randomized phase III trials

Br J Dermatol 2024;190:477–85 Doi: 10.1093/bjd/ljad429.

No new safety signals were found in the three-year safety data on bimekizumab for plaque PsO. Additionally, incidence of oral candidiasis significantly decreased with each subsequent year.

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Phase 3 trials of ixekizumab in moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis

N Engl J Med 2016;375:345–56. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1512711

Gordon, et al. pool the results of UNCOVER-1, UNCOVER-2, and UNCOVER-3 to show that ixekizumab increases the proportion of patients achieving an sPGA score of 0/1 or PASI 75 versus placebo. Adverse events related to ixekizumab treatment included neutropenia, candidal infections, and inflammatory bowel disease.

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February 2024

Efficacy and safety of JAK inhibitors in rheumatoid arthritis: update for the practising clinician

Nat Rev Rheumatol 2024;20(2):101–115 DOI: 10.1038/s41584-023-01062-9

The observed benefit:risk ratio strongly favours JAKi use in the majority of patients, and HCPs should consider and adhere to guidance on high-risk patients where applicable. Szekanecz et al summarised the safety and efficacy of approved JAKis tofacitinib, baricitinib, upadacitinib, and filgotinib to aid in clinical decision making.

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November 2023

Tratamento com bimekizumabe em pacientes com espondiloartrite axial ativa: eficácia e segurança após 52 semanas nos estudos randomizados e paralelos de fase 3 BE MOBILE 1 e BE MOBILE 2

Ann Rheum Dis. 2023;83(2):199–213 doi 10.1136/ard-2023-224803

Baraliakos, et al. present data from two Phase 3 studies, BE MOBILE 1 and BE MOBILE 2, that investigated the clinical efficacy and safety of bimekizumab in axSpA patients. They found that bimekizumab had sustained and consistent efficacy in patients with nr-axSpA and r-axSpA.

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August 2023

A JAK Inhibitor for Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis: The Baricitinib Experience

J. Clin. Med. 2023;12(13):4527 doi 10.3390/jcm12134527

This review by Taylor, et al. reviews the long-term safety and efficacy data for baricitinib. Results from several studies showed that baricitinib has greater efficacy and survival compared to TNF inhibitors, and that the rate of CDAI <10 for baricitinib-treated RA patients increased over the course of seven years. Data also showed that remission rates were higher in real-world evidence than in RCTs.

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