January 2025

Efficacy and safety of mirikizumab in patients with moderately-to-severely active Crohn’s disease: a phase 3, multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled and active-controlled, treat through study

Lancet 2024;404:2423–36 doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(24)01762-8

Ferrante et al. conducted a phase 3 trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of mirikizumab in patients with moderately-to-severely active Crohn’s disease. The study demonstrated that mirikizumab significantly improved clinical and endoscopic outcomes compared with placebo at week 52, with a favourable safety profile and tolerable adverse events.

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Development of extra-musculoskeletal manifestations in upadacitinib-treated patients with psoriatic arthritis or axial spondyloarthritis

Arthritis & Rheumatology 2024. Epub ahead of print doi: 10.1002/art.43069

Poddubnyy et al. analysed five clinical trials to evaluate extra-musculoskeletal manifestations (EMMs) like uveitis, IBD, and psoriasis in patients treated with UPA. They observed low incidences across PsA, r-axSpA, and nr-axSpA. Numerically, uveitis rates were lower in
UPA-treated patients than in those receiving placebo, particularly in r-axSpA.

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Sustained response to guselkumab regardless of baseline characteristics in patients with active psoriatic arthritis and inadequate response to TNF inhibitors: results from the phase 3b COSMOS clinical trial

RMD Open. 2024 Dec 12;10(4):e004494. doi: 10.1136/rmdopen-2024-004494.

McInnes et al. assessed the efficacy of guselkumab over 48 weeks in patients with psoriatic arthritis who had an inadequate response to TNF inhibitors. The results demonstrated consistent improvements in joint, skin, and patient-reported outcomes across all baseline-defined subgroups. Guselkumab showed greater efficacy compared with placebo at Week 24, with responses maintained or improved through Week 48.

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Indirect comparison of deucravacitinib and other systemic treatments for moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in Asian populations: A systematic literature review and network meta-analysis

J Dermatol. 2024;51:1559–1571 doi: 10.1111/1346-8138.17448

Tsai et al. conducted a systematic literature review and network meta-analysis evaluating deucravacitinib and other systemic treatments for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in Asian populations. The authors reported that deucravacitinib achieved PASI75 and PASI90 response rates of 66% and 40%, respectively, higher than placebo and apremilast.

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Improvement of fatigue in patients with ankylosing spondylitis receiving tofacitinib: analyses of a Phase 3 randomized controlled trial

Journal Reference: Rheumatol Ther. 2024 doi: 10.1007/s40744-024-00727-5

Gossec et al. demonstrated that tofacitinib significantly reduced fatigue in patients with ankylosing spondylitis, with median times to clinically meaningful improvements of 8 and 12 weeks for initial and stable improvement events, respectively. These changes were observed as early as two weeks and were more pronounced compared to placebo.

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Integrated safety analysis of tofacitinib from Phase 2 and 3 trials of patients with ankylosing spondylitis

Journal Reference: Adv Rheumatol. 2024 Dec 18;64:87 doi: 10.1186/s42358-024-00402-x

Deodhar et al. conducted a pooled analysis of Phase 2 and 3 RCT data to assess the safety of tofacitinib in AS. The results showed that tofacitinib 5 mg BID had a tolerable safety profile over 48 weeks, consistent with its use in other inflammatory conditions such as RA and PsA.

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Barriers to CAR T-cell therapy in rheumatology

Lancet Rheumatol 2024 doi: 10.1016/S2665-9913(24)00240-6

Lungova et al. explored the potential of CAR T-cell therapy in autoimmune conditions such as SLE, myopathies, and systemic sclerosis. While clinical cases show promise, adoption is limited by high costs, narrow patient eligibility, and safety concerns, including cytokine release syndrome. Future targeted CAR T-cell approaches may enhance efficacy and safety.

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Sustained DMARD-free remission in subgroups of patients with rheumatoid arthritis: an analysis of two prospective cohorts with early arthritis

Lancet Rheumatol 2024 doi: 10.1016/S2665-9913(24)00234-0

Heutz et al. found that patients requiring bDMARDs rarely achieved DMARD-free remission, while 15–37% of those on non-bDMARDs reached this milestone, underscoring significant differences based on treatment type. This suggests the EULAR recommendation against DMARD cessation may be too generalised.

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December 2024

Fenofibrate as an Adjunct Therapy for Ulcerative Colitis: Targeting Inflammation via SIRT1, NLRP3, and AMPK Pathways: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study

Drug Des Devel Ther. 2024;18:5239-5253. doi 10.2147/DDDT.S490772

Alarfaj et al. demonstrate fenofibrate significantly improved clinical outcomes, inflammatory biomarkers, and quality of life in patients with mild-to-moderate UC when added to mesalamine therapy.

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Secukinumab Reduces Psoriasis-associated Pruritus and Regenerates the Cutaneous Nerve Architecture: Results from PSORITUS a Doubleblind, Placebo-controlled, Randomized Withdrawal Phase IIIb Study

Acta Derm Venereol. 2024 20;104:adv40737 doi: 10.2340/actadv.v104.40737

Renkhold et al. report that secukinumab significantly reduced psoriasis-associated pruritus intensity, improved skin lesions, and normalised histopathological changes, with stable neuroanatomy despite treatment discontinuation.

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