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.

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.

Keywords:

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.

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.

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.

Keywords:

December 2024

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.

Baraliakos et al. assessed the long-term efficacy and safety of upadacitinib in patients with active ankylosing spondylitis who were refractory to biologic therapy. At week 104, the treatment sustained improvements in disease activity and functional outcomes with low rates of radiographic progression and no new safety signals.

Kavanaugh et al. conducted a post hoc analysis of a phase 2 trial examining deucravacitinib in patients with active psoriatic arthritis, focusing on the achievement of MDA components.

The analysis demonstrated that treatment with deucravacitinib led to a higher proportion of patients meeting each MDA component compared with placebo at 16 weeks.

Buch et al. demonstrated that filgotinib sustained its efficacy in rheumatoid arthritis patients through Wk156 in the FINCH 4 long-term extension study, showing stable safety profiles. The study reported high ACR response rates and remission based on Boolean criteria, underlining filgotinib's potential for extended clinical benefits.

Baricitinib as monotherapy for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis: analysis of real-world data

Current Medical Research and Opinion 2024;40:1993–2002 doi: 10.1080/03007995.2024.2416979.

Edwards et al. report on real-world data for baricitinib monotherapy in rheumatoid arthritis, showing significant disease activity reduction across multiple registries and observational studies. These findings reinforce the viability of baricitinib monotherapy in clinical practice for RA patients, complementing existing guidelines.