October 2023

Global, Regional, and National Burden of Rheumatoid Arthritis, 1990–2020, and Projections to 2050: a Systematic Analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

Lancet Rheumatol 2023;5(10):e594–610 doi 10.1016/S2665-9913(23)00211-4

As part of the GBD 2021, the authors provide updated estimates for the global burden of RA. In 2020, approximately 17.6 million people worldwide had RA, with a 14.1% increase in prevalence since 1990. Mortality decreased by 23.8% from 1990 to 2020. The study forecasts an increase in cases to 31.7 million by 2050.

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September 2023

Real-world effectiveness of risankizumab in patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis using the CorEvitas Psoriasis Registry

J Am Acad Dermatol 2024;90:82–90 doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2023.08.097

The majority of patients receiving persistent risankizumab therapy achieved clear or clear/almost clear skin at 12 months and patients reported significant reductions in DLQI scores, PROs (fatigue, skin pain, overall itch), and work and activity impairment.

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Efficacy and Safety of Upadacitinib in Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis Refractory to Biologic Therapy: 1-year Results From the Open-label Extension of a Phase III Study

Arthritis Res Ther 2023; 2023;18;25(1):172 doi 10.1186/s13075-023-03128-1

The efficacy and safety of updacitinib in bDMARD-IR patients with AS were sustained through to one year in an open-label extension of the SELECT-AXIS 2 study.

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Anti-gm-csf Otilimab versus Sarilumab or Placebo in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Inadequate Response to Targeted Therapies: A Phase III Randomised Trial (contRAst 3)

Ann Rheum Dis. 2023;82(12):1527–1537 doi 10.1136/ard-2023-224449

The ContRAst 3 study investigated otilimab, in RA patients with inadequate responses to multiple treatments. Otilimab did not significantly improve ACR20 versus placebo at Weeks 12 or 24. In addition, there we no significant improvements in secondary endpoints, including disease activity, disability, and pain.

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Bimekizumab Treatment in Biologic DMARD-Naïve Patients with Active Psoriatic Arthritis: 52-Week Efficacy and Safety Results from the Phase III, Randomised, Placebo-Controlled, Active Reference BE OPTIMAL Study

Ann Rheum Dis. 2023;82(11):1404–1414 doi: 10.1136/ard-2023-224431

Data from this phase 3 RCT demonstrated that the efficacy of bimekizumab observed at 16 weeks remained consistent through to 52 weeks in the treatment of bDMARD-naïve patients with PsA. Patients who started the trial on placebo and switched to bimekizumab at week 16 showed similar improvements to those patients who were randomised to receive bimekizumab at the start of the trail. No new safety signals were identified.

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Treatment with Upadacitinib in Active Psoriatic Arthritis: Efficacy and Safety Data of the First 192 Patients from the UPJOINT Study, a Multicentre, Observational Study in Clinical Practice

Rheumatol Ther. 2023;10(6):1503–1508 doi: 10.1007/s40744-023-00589-3

In the UPJOINT open label study, the proportion of patients with PsA, and an inadequate response to csDMARDs or bDMARDs, who achieved minimal disease activity with upadacitinib was in line with the results of previous studies at 24 weeks. No new safety signals were identified.

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Prevention of Radiographic Progression in Higher-Risk Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis Using Filgotinib in Phase III Studies: Narrative Review of Post Hoc Analyses

Rheumatol Ther. 2023;10(6):1399–1415 doi: 10.1007/s40744-023-00590-w

Findings from post hoc analyses extend the knowledge base for radiographic benefits of filgotinib in patients with RA.

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Guselkumab Modulates Differentially Expressed Genes in Blood of Patients with Psoriatic Arthritis: Results from Two Phase 3, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trials

ACR Open Rheumatol. 2023 doi: 10.1002/acr2.11589

Whole blood transcriptome profiling reveals differential gene expression in patients with active PsA from the DISCOVER-1 and DISCOVER-2 clinical studies in comparison with healthy controls.

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Bimekizumab efficacy and safety in patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis: Two-year interim results from the open-label extension of the randomized BE RADIANT Phase 3b trial

J Am Acad Dermatol 2023;89:486–95. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2023.04.063

High levels of clinical responses were seen throughout the first 48 weeks with bimekizumab treatment. These were maintained to Week 96 in patients with moderate-to-severe plaque PsO.

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A Real-World Effectiveness Study Using a Mobile Application to Evaluate Early Outcomes with Upadacitinib in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatol Ther. 2023;10(6):1519–1533 doi 10.1007/s40744-023-00594-6

This study by Harrold, et al. showed that RA patients initiating upadacitinib reported improvements in RAPID3, pain, stiffness, and fatigue as early as Week 1, with 37.5% achieving RAPID3 LDA at Week 12. TNFi-experienced patients had similar outcomes.

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