JAKinibs have been linked with an increased risk of HZ in patients with RA. To this end, Winthrop, et al. evaluated data from six Phase III clinical trials to determine the incidence of HZ in the upadacitinib (UPA)-treated patients with RA and identify potential risk factors for the development of HZ in these patients.Analysis of data provides further support for the need for continued vigilance and monitoring for signs of herpes zoster (HZ) in patients receiving UPA, particularly in Asian popul...

October 2021

Tofacitinib could induce Hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation in RA patients.With previous studies having already demonstrated that RA patients using biologic agents, might experience HBV reactivation leading to acute hepatitis, hyperbilirubinemia, and death, Wang, et al. aimed to investigate HBV reactivation in patients with RA receiving tofacitinib. They found that Hepatitis B surface antigen positive patients receiving tofacitinib have a high incidence rate of HBV reactivation, which could be...
A 3.6-fold increased risk of herpes zoster (HZ) is associated with tsDMARDs, and an increased risk is associated with bDMARDs, compared with csDMARDs. It is now well known that patients with RA have an increased risk of developing herpes zoster (HZ), and that incidence rates appear to be increased with TNF and JAK inhibitors. To this end, Redeker, et al. used data from the German RABBIT Registry to compare event and incidence rates of HZ in patients with RA treated with the three different DMAR...

August 2021

Genetic analysis of tofacitinib-treated subjects with RA or PsO identified multiple loci associated with increased herpes zoster (HZ) risk.It is well known that HZ risk is elevated in subjects with RA compared with the general population, and that treatment with JAK inhibitors may result in increased risks compared with TNFi and other bDMARD treatments. To this end, Bing, et al. used genome-wide association studies to identify genetic factors associated with an increased risk/faster onset of HZ ...

July 2021

Fifty-six-week data suggest that upadacitinib could be a favourable long-term treatment option in patients with PsA who are refractory to biologic therapy.As the need for additional therapeutic agents that can effectively control disease activity continues, new data from a 56-week analysis of the oral reversible JAK1 inhibitor, upadacitinib, currently under investigation for the treatment of PsA, shows that efficacy of the drug is maintained over the duration of this study.Mease, et al. explored...

April 2021

Comparative Analysis of BTK Inhibitors and Mechanisms Underlying Adverse Effects

Front. Cell Dev. Biol. 9:630942 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.630942

Understanding of the B-cell receptor signalling pathway led to the identification of a suitable drug target to addresses autoimmunity and inflammation in areas such as MS, RA, pemphigus and SLE. There are currently 22 BTKis in various stages of clinical development. However, AEs such as cardiovascular and bleeding side effects, as well as rash, diarrhoea and infections have been associated with the inhibition of other kinases with a BTKi-binding cysteine in their catalytic domain.Based on clinic...

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