JAK Inhibitors: New Players in the Field of Immune-Mediated Diseases Beyond Rheumatoid Arthritis
September 2018
in “
Rheumatology
”
TLDR JAK inhibitors are effective in treating various immune-related diseases, not just rheumatoid arthritis.
The document reviews the role of Janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducers and activators of transcription (STATs) in the pathogenesis of various immune-mediated diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), spondyloarthritides (SpAs), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and skin disorders including alopecia areata and atopic dermatitis. It explains how JAKs initiate the JAK/STAT pathway, which is crucial for the function of cytokines and other effector molecules. The review highlights the development of over 20 JAK inhibitors (JAKinibs) in the past decade, initially marketed for RA and PsA, but also tested in phase 2 and phase 3 clinical trials for other inflammatory conditions. The review summarizes clinical data on the efficacy and safety of JAK inhibitors in treating immune-mediated conditions other than RA.