Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKi) work differently from other available treatments and may be highly effective in the treatment of psoriatic arthritis (PsA), according to an abstract presentation at the ACR Convergence in San Diego on November 13.

The understanding of JAKi efficacy and safety in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has already been established. However, the understanding remains less developed for PsA. Through the JAK-pot study, investigators evaluated the profile of JAKi-prescribed PsA patients in a large multicountry real-world collaboration.

Patients with PsA were compared among 3 cohorts—those treated with JAKi, those treated with tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi), and those treated with biological disease-modifying drugs (bDMARDs) with other modes of action. Across the 3 groups, the researchers studied characteristics based on patients, disease, and treatment.

Of the 11,939 treatment courses included in the study, 67% used tofacitinib, 27% used upadacitinib, and 6% used baricitinib. Patients treated with JAKi were characterized by “more difficult to treat disease, defined as longer disease duration (more than 9 years), older age, more prior bDMARD experience (3 or more previous bDMARDs), and more concomitant glucocorticoids.”

Based on the unadjusted drug retention rates for second-line therapies among patients with PsA, the findings suggested “lower drug maintenance of JAKi compared to other modes of action and TNFi.”

The researchers concluded that JAKi inhibitors show promise in the treatment of moderate-to-severe psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis.

Reference:
Finckh A, Aymon R, Mongin D et al. 1692: Insights on the use of JAK-inhibitors in patients with psoriatic arthritis in an international collaboration of registers (the “JAK-pot” study). Presented at: American College of Rheumatology Convergence. November 13, 2023. San Diego.