Late-Breaking Abstract Session Spans the Realm of Drug-Related Research

Tofacitinib for Ankylosing Spondylitis
A phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study with tofacitinib in patients with active ankylosing spondylitis (AS) indicated a rapid clinical response, said Atul Deodhar, MD, professor of medicine in the Division of Arthritis and Rheumatic Diseases, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland.

The 269 patients who were included were all adults who met modified New York Criteria and who had an inadequate response or intolerance of two or more non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.⁶ During the 16-week double-blind phase, researchers randomized patients 1:1 to receive tofacitinib 5 mg twice daily or placebo. After week 16, all patients received open-label tofacitinib through week 48. By week 16, a significantly greater percentage of treatment patients (56.4% versus 29.4% for placebo) were ASA20 responders.

The safety profile with tofacitinib was consistent with that found in rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis, Dr. Deodhar said. No new safety risks were identified.

Vanessa Caceres is a medical writer in Bradenton, Florida.

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