Description:

Upadacitinib is a small-molecule targeted synthetic DMARD. It is a selective Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor, with greater selectivity for JAK1 over JAK2, JAK3, and tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2), thereby modulating pro-inflammatory cytokine signalling pathways involved in the pathogenesis of rheumatological diseases. Upadacitinib is USFDA approved for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS), Psoriatic arthritis (PsA), Atopic dermatitis (AD), Ulcerative colitis (UC), polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (pJIA) and Giant cell arteritis (GCA). It may be used in combination with methotrexate or other conventional synthetic DMARDs. It has demonstrated efficacy in reducing disease activity, improving physical function, and inhibiting radiographic progression of joint damage. It has shown a rapid efficacy response as early as week 2. Long-term clinical trial data have demonstrated sustained efficacy and a consistent safety profile for up to seven years of treatment.