76 Percent Of Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients On Oral JAK1/JAK2 Inhibitor Plus DMARDS Achieve ACR20 Response At Week 12

Date: Jun-11-2012Data from a Phase IIb study presented at EULAR 2012, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism, show that 76% of patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) receiving either 4mg or 8mg of baricitinib, an oral JAK1/JAK2 inhibitor, plus stable methotrexate (MTX) achieved ACR20* response compared with 41% of placebo-treated patients (p less than or equal to 0.001) at 12 weeks. The 4mg and 8mg doses of baricitinib demonstrated statistical superiority to placebo in all clinical outcomes measured, including ACR20/50/70*, DAS28**-CRP and DAS28-CRP cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol were seen. Patients were randomized to receive either placebo or one of four once-daily doses (1, 2, 4, or 8mg) for 12 weeks. The study population was 83% female, with a mean age of 51 years and a mean duration of RA of five to seven years.

Whilst the majority of AEs reported were mild, there were seven serious AE's reported in six patients (two events in the placebo group, four in the 2mg group, one in the 8 mg group). No deaths or opportunistic infections occurred in the active treatment groups. One patient in the placebo group was diagnosed with an opportunistic infection of toxocariasis. A similar rate of infection was observed in the placebo group (12%) and the combined treatment groups (14%), representing the most common treatment emergent AE.

Courtesy: Medical News Today Note: Any medical information available in this news section is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a health care professional.