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THERAPY IN 2018

Selective Janus kinase inhibitors come of age

Nature Reviews Rheumatology volume 15, pages 74–75 (2019)Cite this article

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Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors (jakinibs) that target downstream signalling by a large range of cytokines are effective in treating autoimmune and rheumatic diseases. Newer jakinibs that selectively inhibit individual JAKs and a narrower spectrum of cytokines have now been developed, but how do these inhibitors compare with existing drugs?

Key advances

  • Filgotinib, a JAK1-selective inhibitor, demonstrates efficacy in psoriatic arthritis with no unexpected safety signals1.

  • Filgotinib is efficacious in patients with ankylosing spondylitis who did not respond to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs2.

  • Two phase III trials demonstrate efficacy of upadacitinib, a selective JAK1, in RA3,4.

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Fig. 1: Selectivity of JAK inhibitors.

References

  1. Mease, P. et al. Efficacy and safety of filgotinib, a selective Janus kinase 1 inhibitor, in patients with active psoriatic arthritis (EQUATOR): results from a randomised, placebo-controlled, phase 2 trial. Lancet 392, 2367–2377 (2018).

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Molecular Immunology and Inflammation Branch, National Institutes of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin diseases, Bethesda, MD, USA

    John J. O’Shea

  2. Translational Immunology Section, National Institutes of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, Bethesda, MD, USA

    Massimo Gadina

Authors
  1. John J. O’Shea
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  2. Massimo Gadina
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to John J. O’Shea.

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Competing interests

J.J.O’S. declares that he and the NIH hold a patent related to JAK inhibition in autoimmune disease and receive royalties from this patent. Both authors declare that they have a Collaborative Research and Development Agreement related to JAK inhibitors with Pfizer.

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O’Shea, J.J., Gadina, M. Selective Janus kinase inhibitors come of age. Nat Rev Rheumatol 15, 74–75 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41584-018-0155-9

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