Effectiveness and Safety of Filgotinib in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Real-life Multicentre Experience

Clin Exp Rheumatol 2024 doi 10.55563/clinexprheumatol/k78ug3 Epub ahead of print

This real-world observational study by La Barbera, et al. confirms that filgotinib is efficacious and safe for use in the management of RA. The authors also report that improvements in clinical and laboratory features were greater in bDMARD-naïve patients with RA.

December 2023

This multicentre, retrospective study by Hayashi, et al. found no significant differences in efficacy and safety between tofacitinib, baricitinib, peficitinib and upadacitinib in patients with RA. Predictive factors for resistance to LDA achievement included baseline CRP and CDAI for tofacitinib and baseline glucocorticoid dose, baseline CDAI and number of previous b/tsDMARDs for baricitinib.

October 2023

This retrospective inception cohort study investigated RA patients starting a new bDMARD or JAKi prescription between 01 August 2018 and 31 January 2022 from IQVIA’s Dutch Real-World Data Longitudinal Prescription database.

Real-world data from the PsABio study indicated that females with PsA had more severe disease than males before the initiation of treatment. While both genders experienced treatment related improvements, fewer females than males were able to achieve a favourable disease state within 12 months. Treatment discontinuation and switching were also higher in females than males, due to lower efficacy and adverse events.      

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.

This study by Bergman, et al. showed that RA patients are significantly more likely to adhere to upadacitinib within the first 12 months of prescription versus adalimumab, baricitinib, and tofacitinib. There was also a significantly lower risk of discontinuation for upadacitinib versus the other treatment prescriptions.

September 2023

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.

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.

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.

July 2023

The data gathered in this post-marketing surveillance study aligned with the previously established safety profile of tofacitinib, and reports were found to have consistent safety profiles in the treatment of both patient with PsA and RA. However, the results of this study should be interpreted considering the limitations of post-marketing surveillance studies.