Nature Reviews Rheumatology | 2019
Selective Janus kinase inhibitors come of age
Abstract
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 advancesFilgotinib, 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.