Publications

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

Buch et al. evaluated the efficacy and safety of filgotinib in patients with moderately active rheumatoid arthritis and inadequate response to methotrexate in the FINCH 1 study. At     Wk 12, ACR20 response rates were significantly higher with filgotinib 200 mg (77.9%) and 100 mg (67.8%) compared to placebo (43.8%). Safety profiles for both filgotinib doses were similar to adalimumab.

Deodhar et al. evaluated the efficacy and safety of intravenous secukinumab in patients with active axial spondyloarthritis. The study found a significant improvement in the ASAS40 response at Week 16 (40.9% vs 22.9% in placebo, P<0.0001), with responses maintained through Week 52. No new safety signals were observed.

IV secukinumab provided rapid and sustained improvements in disease signs and symptoms at Week 16 and through 52 weeks. Kivitz et al. evaluated the long-term efficacy, safety, and tolerability of IV secukinumab in patients with active PsA.

Su et al. conducted a comprehensive systematic review and network meta-analysis to assess the efficacy and safety of therapies for difficult-to-treat (D2T) RA. They found that tocilizumab and rituximab had superior efficacy and safety profiles, with 8mg every 4 weeks of tocilizumab identified as the optimal therapeutic dose.

Kandeel et al. compared JAK inhibitors and TNF inhibitors in RA. JAK inhibitors demonstrated better functional improvement via HAQ-DI but showed insignificant difference in CDAI compared to TNF inhibitors; both classes had similar safety.

Mease et al. assessed the comparative effectiveness of bimekizumab and risankizumab in patients with PsA over 52 weeks using a matching-adjusted indirect comparison (MAIC). The study included patients who were biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (bDMARD) naïve or had a prior inadequate response or intolerance to tumour necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi-IR).

McInnes et al. reported that bimekizumab demonstrated sustained efficacy and safety over 52 weeks in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA), regardless of concomitant methotrexate (MTX) use. Both bimekizumab groups (with and without MTX) showed similar improvements in achieving ACR50 and PASI100 responses.

van Vollenhoven et al. compared the efficacy and safety of upadacitinib monotherapy to methotrexate monotherapy over five years in methotrexate-naïve patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The study found that upadacitinib provided better long-term efficacy and higher rates of disease activity remission than methotrexate; however, it was associated with higher incidences of adverse events, particularly at the higher dose of 30 mg.

Fleischmann et al. evaluated the long-term efficacy and safety of upadacitinib in rheumatoid arthritis patients with inadequate response or intolerance to bDMARDs over five years. The study demonstrated that upadacitinib 15 mg and 30 mg were effective in maintaining disease control, with >75% of patients achieving CDAI LDA by week 260. The safety profile remained consistent with no new issues identified.