Tofacitinib Efficacy in Ankylosing Spondylitis Save

Deodhar and colleagues have published the results of a study showing that in adult patients with active ankylosing spondylitis (AS), oral tofacitinib was effective (versus placebo) and safe. 

This was a phase III, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 269 adult AS patients who had to fail ≥2 non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to enroll. The primary endpoint was the ASAS20 response  at week 16. 

The week 16 ASAS20 response rate was significantly (p<0.0001) greater with tofacitinib (56% vs. 29% placebo); as was the ASAS40 response rate (41% vs. 12%; p<0.0001)

Serious adverse events were only seen in 0.7% if of patients.  There were no deaths, malignancies, major adverse cardiovascular events, thromboembolic events or opportunistic infections.

In active AS, tofacitinib had significantly greater efficacy versus placebo.