September 2023

Anti-GM-CSF Otilimab Versus Tofacitinib or Placebo in Patients With Active Rheumatoid Arthritis and an Inadequate Response to Conventional or Biologic DMARDs: Two Phase 3 Randomised Trials (contRAst 1 and contRAst 2)

Ann Rheum Dis 2023;0:1–11 doi 10.1136/ard-2023-224482

Fleischmann, et al investigated the safety and efficacy of otilimab versus tofacitinib and placebo in RA patients treated with MTX (contRAst 1) or csDMARDs (contRAst 2). They found that while otilimab achieved the primary endpoint of ACR20 versus placebo in Week 12, it did not demonstrate non-inferiority to tofacitinib.

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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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Janus Kinase Inhibitor—Tofacitinib Associated with Pemphigus: An Analysis of the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System Data

ExpExpert Opin Drug Saf. 2023;22(12):1317–1320 doi: 10.1080/14740338.2023.2248872

This study presents initial data suggesting an association between the use of JAK inhibitors and pemphigus. This research used the FAERS database to investigate connections between JAK inhibitor usage and the occurrence of pemphigus as an adverse event.

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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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