Drug News and Therapeutic News
June 2023
in “
Fundamental & clinical pharmacology
”
Studysummary This research highlights that while JAK inhibitors are effective for various inflammatory conditions, studies raise concerns about increased risks of venous and arterial thromboembolism, and cancer, particularly with tofacitinib and baricitinib, leading to European guidelines recommending caution in high-risk patients.
Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer
JAK inhibitors, a new class of synthetic targeted therapies, have shown efficacy in treating conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, alopecia areata, and ulcerative colitis. While Phase III and IV studies suggest their adverse event risk is similar to biological treatments, the Oral Surveillance study highlighted increased risks of thromboembolism and cancer with tofacitinib in older rheumatoid arthritis patients with cardiovascular risk factors. However, observational studies in the U.S. did not confirm these risks. Baricitinib also showed increased thromboembolism risk in various studies. The European Medicines Agency recommended avoiding JAK inhibitors in high-risk patients unless no alternatives exist. Further studies are needed to evaluate the safety of more selective JAK inhibitors like upadacitinib and filgotinib.
