In the past, psoriatic arthritis (PsA) has been relatively difficult to manage or control with current therapies such as biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (bDMARDs). While some patients respond well to treatments, others do not. Thus, a new therapeutic option is needed to help patients with controlling their PsA. According to the Rheumatology Network, upadacitinib could be the answer. Researchers evaluated upadacitinib for PsA within the Phase 3 SELECT-PsA 2 clinical trial. They found that, following treatment, patients saw better disease control, reduced symptoms, and a higher quality of life. Interested in learning more? Take a look at the study findings published in Rheumatology and Therapy. 

Upadacitinib

According to an unrelated article published in The New England Journal of Medicine, upadacitinib is:

an oral, reversible Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor approved for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

• Patients receiving upadacitinib saw significant reductions in pain and disease activity compared to the placebo. In fact, patients receiving 30mg saw 72% improvement in disease activity.
• Upatacitinib was relatively fast-acting. Some patients reported improvements within the first 2 weeks of treatment.
• Patients saw significantly better Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) responses when taking upadacitinib as compared to the placebo.
• Altogether, 80% stated that they achieved a sustained and durable treatment response throughout the entire course of the study.
• For patients initially treated with the placebo, they saw improvements once switched over to upadacitinib treatment.