March 2025

Understanding Cardiovascular Events with JAK Inhibitors: Tofacitinib Reduces Synovial and Vascular Inflammation but not the Prothrombotic Effects of Inflammatory Cytokines on Endothelium

ACR Open Rheumatol. 2025 Jan;7(1):e11790 doi: 10.1002/acr2.11790.

Zavoriti and Miossec explored the impact of tofacitinib on inflammation and coagulation in RA. Tofacitinib reduced synovial and vascular inflammation by inhibiting IFNɣ, IL-17A, and IL-6 production but failed to prevent the prothrombotic effects of inflammatory cytokines on endothelial cells. These findings suggest that while tofacitinib reduces inflammation, it does not mitigate associated thrombotic risk.

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Effective second‑line b/tsDMARDs for patients with rheumatoid arthritis unresponsive to first‑line b/tsDMARDs from the FIRST registry

Rheumatol Ther 2025. Epub ahead of print doi: 10.1007/s40744-025-00747-9

Kanda et al. investigated the efficacy of second-line b/tsDMARDs in RA patients unresponsive to first-line b/tsDMARDs. Using data from the FIRST registry, the study assessed 687 patients with RA treated with TNFis, IL-6 receptor inhibitors, cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 immunoglobulin, or JAKis. After propensity score-based adjustment, JAKi showed the highest persistence rate, greatest improvement in CDAI, and highest remission rates at 24 weeks. Among JAKi, UPA was most effective in achieving remission, with a safety profile comparable to other b/tsDMARDs.

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February 2025

A randomised phase 3b study evaluating the safety and efficacy of risankizumab in adult patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis with non-pustular palmoplantar involvement

J Am Acad Dermatol 2024;91:1150–7 doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2024.07.1521

Lebwohl et al. investigated the efficacy and safety of risankizumab compared with placebo for treating palmoplantar psoriasis. At Wk16, significantly more patients receiving risankizumab achieved palmoplantar Investigator’s Global Assessment (ppIGA) 0/1 and PPASI75. The results were sustained through Wk52 with no new safety signals.

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Safety and efficacy of deucravacitinib in moderate to severe plaque psoriasis for up to 3 years: An open-label extension of randomized clinical trials

JAMA Dermatology 2025;161:56–66 doi: 10.1001/jamadermatol.2024.4688

Armstrong et al. evaluated the long-term safety and efficacy of deucravacitinib in patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis over a three-year period. The study found that exposure-adjusted incidence rates of AEs remained stable or declined over time, with no new safety signals emerging. Clinical response rates, including PASI75/90, were maintained, supporting the drug’s long-term efficacy.

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Tamuzimod in patients with moderately-to-severely active ulcerative colitis: a multicentre, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, phase 2 induction trial

Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2025;10:210–221. doi: 10.1016/S2468-1253(24)00386-8.

Sands et al. evaluated tamuzimod, a selective sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor 1 modulator, in patients with moderately-to-severely active UC. At Week 13, clinical remission (defined as an MMS stool frequency subscore of ≤1, rectal bleeding subscore of 0, and endoscopic subscore ≤1, excluding friability) was achieved by 28% and 24% of patients receiving tamuzimod 60 mg and 30 mg, respectively, compared with 11% in the placebo group. The treatment was well tolerated; most AEs were mild or moderate.

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Long-term safety and sustained efficacy of bimekizumab in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (radiographic axial spondyloarthritis): 5-year results from BE AGILE (phase 2b) and its open-label extension

MD Open. 2025;11:e005081 doi: 10.1136/rmdopen-2024-005081

Deodhar et al. assessed the long-term safety, tolerability and efficacy of bimekizumab in patients with r-axSpA over five years. The study found that bimekizumab maintained disease control achieved at Wk48 through Wk256, with no new safety signals observed. Adverse events were consistent with previous reports, and clinical benefits, including improvements in disease activity and patient-reported outcomes, were sustained.

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Long-Term Safety and Efficacy of Bimekizumab in Axial Spondyloarthritis: 2-Year Results from Two Phase 3 Studies

Rheumatol. 2025. Epub ahead of print. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/keaf009

Baraliakos et al. evaluated the long-term safety and efficacy of bimekizumab in axSpA through a 2-year analysis of the BE MOBILE 1 and BE MOBILE 2 studies. Bimekizumab was well tolerated, with a consistent safety profile and no new safety signals. Clinical improvements, including ASAS40 response and MRI remission, were sustained through Wk104.

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Switching to biological DMARDs versus cycling among JAK inhibitors in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and with inadequate response to JAK inhibitors: from FIRST registry

RMD Open. 2025 Jan 21;11:e004987

Miyazaki et al. investigated the efficacy and safety of switching to bDMARDs versus cycling among JAKis in RA patients with inadequate JAKi response. Cycling to another JAKi proved more effective in improving disease activity at 26 weeks compared to switching to a bDMARD, and both groups had similar safety profiles.

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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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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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