ObjectivePatients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are at increased risk of herpes zoster, and vaccination is recommended for patients ages 50 years and older, prior to starting treatment with biologic agents or tofacitinib. Tofacitinib is an oral JAK inhibitor for the treatment of RA. We evaluated its effect on the immune response and safety of live zoster vaccine (LZV).MethodsIn this phase II, 14‐week, placebo‐controlled trial, patients ages 50 years and older who had active RA and were receiving background methotrexate were given LZV and randomized to receive tofacitinib 5 mg twice daily or placebo 2–3 weeks postvaccination. We measured humoral responses (varicella zoster virus [VZV]–specific IgG level as determined by glycoprotein enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay) and cell‐mediated responses (VZV‐specific T cell enumeration, as determined by enzyme‐linked immunospot assay) at baseline and 2 weeks, 6 weeks, and 14 weeks postvaccination. End points included the geometric mean fold rise (GMFR) in VZV‐specific IgG levels (primary end point) and T cells (number of spot‐forming cells/106 peripheral blood mononuclear cells) at 6 weeks postvaccination.ResultsOne hundred twelve patients were randomized to receive tofacitinib (n = 55) or placebo (n = 57). Six weeks postvaccination, the GMFR in VZV‐specific IgG levels was 2.11 in the tofacitinib group and 1.74 in the placebo group, and the VZV‐specific T cell GMFR was similar in the tofacitinib group and the placebo group (1.50 and 1.29, respectively). Serious adverse events occurred in 3 patients in the tofacitinib group (5.5%) and 0 patients (0.0%) in the placebo group. One patient, who lacked preexisting VZV immunity, developed cutaneous vaccine dissemination 2 days after starting tofacitinib (16 days postvaccination). This resolved after tofacitinib was discontinued and the patient received antiviral treatment.ConclusionPatients who began treatment with tofacitinib 2–3 weeks after receiving LZV had VZV‐specific humoral and cell‐mediated immune responses to LZV similar to those in placebo‐treated patients. Vaccination appeared to be safe in all of the patients except 1 patient who lacked preexisting VZV immunity.

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This study evaluated the short-term effects of tofacitinib treatment on peripheral blood leukocyte phenotype and function, and the reversibility of any such effects following treatment withdrawal in healthy volunteers. Cytomegalovirus (CMV)-seropositive subjects received oral tofacitinib 10 mg twice daily for 4 weeks and were followed for 4 weeks after drug withdrawal. There were slight increases in total lymphocyte and total T-cell counts during tofacitinib treatment, and B-cell counts increased by up to 26%. There were no significant changes in granulocyte or monocyte counts, or granulocyte function. Naïve and central memory T-cell counts increased during treatment, while all subsets of activated T cells were decreased by up to 69%. T-cell subsets other than effector memory cluster of differentiation CD4 +, activated naïve CD4 + and effector CD8 + T-cell counts and B-cell counts, normalized 4 weeks after withdrawal. Following ex vivo activation, measures of CMV-specific T-cell responses, and antigen non-specific T-cell-mediated cytotoxicity and interferon (IFN)-γ production, decreased slightly. These T-cell functional changes were most pronounced at Day 15, partially normalized while still on tofacitinib and returned to baseline after drug withdrawal. Total natural killer (NK)-cell counts decreased by 33%, returning towards baseline after drug withdrawal. NK-cell function decreased during tofacitinib treatment, but without a consistent time course across measured parameters. However, markers of NK-cell-mediated cytotoxicity, antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity and IFN-γ production were decreased up to 42% 1 month after drug withdrawal. CMV DNA was not detectable in whole blood, and there were no cases of herpes zoster reactivation. No new safety concerns arose. In conclusion, the effect of short-term tofacitinib treatment on leukocyte composition and function in healthy CMV+ volunteers is modest and largely reversible 4weeks after withdrawal.

Background and Objective Abrocitinib is a Janus kinase 1-selective inhibitor for the treatment of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis. Abrocitinib is eliminated primarily by metabolism involving cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes. Abrocitinib pharmacologic activity is attributable to the unbound concentrations of the parent molecule and 2 active metabolites, which are substrates of organic anion transporter 3 (OAT3). The sum of potency-adjusted unbound exposures of abrocitinib and its 2 active metabolites is termed the abrocitinib active moiety. We evaluated effects of CYP inhibition, CYP induction, and OAT3 inhibition on the pharmacokinetics of abrocitinib, its metabolites, and active moiety. Methods Three fixed-sequence, open-label, phase I studies in healthy adult volunteers examined the drug-drug interactions (DDIs) of oral abrocitinib with fluvoxamine and fluconazole, rifampin, and probenecid. Results Co-administration of abrocitinib with fluvoxamine or fluconazole increased the area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time 0 to infinity (AUC inf ) of the unbound active moiety of abrocitinib by 91% and 155%, respectively. Co-administration with rifampin decreased the unbound active moiety AUC inf by 56%. The OAT3 inhibitor probenecid increased the AUC inf of the unbound active moiety by 66%. Conclusions It is important to consider the effects of DDIs on the abrocitinib active moiety when making dosing recommendations. Co-administration of strong CYP2C19/2C9 inhibitors or CYP inducers impacted exposure to the abrocitinib active moiety. A dose reduction by half is recommended if abrocitinib is co-administered with strong CYP2C19 inhibitors, whereas co-administration with strong CYP2C19/2C9 inducers is not recommended. No dose adjustment is required when abrocitinib is administered with OAT3 inhibitors.

Background:Tofacitinib is an oral JAK inhibitor that is being investigated for JIA.Objectives:To assess tofacitinib efficacy and safety in JIA patients (pts).Methods:This was a Phase 3, randomised, double-blind (DB), placebo (PBO)-controlled withdrawal study in pts aged 2−<18 years with polyarticular course JIA (pcJIA), PsA or ERA (NCT02592434). In the 18-week open-label Part 1, pts received weight-based tofacitinib doses (5 mg BID or lower). Pts with ≥JIA ACR30 response at Week (W)18 were randomised 1:1 in the DB Part 2 (W18−44) to continue tofacitinib or switch to PBO. Primary endpoint: disease flare rate by W44. Key secondary endpoints: JIA ACR50/30/70 response rates; change from Part 2 baseline (Δ) in CHAQ-DI at W44. Other efficacy endpoints: time to disease flare in Part 2; JADAS27-CRP in Parts 1 and 2. PsA/ERA pts were excluded from these efficacy analyses. Safety was evaluated in all pts up to W44.Results:225 enrolled pts with pcJIA (n=184), PsA (n=20) or ERA (n=21) received tofacitinib in Part 1. At W18, 173/225 (76.9%) pts entered Part 2 (pcJIA n=142, PsA n=15, ERA n=16). In pcJIA pts, disease flare rate in Part 2 was significantly lower with tofacitinib vs PBO by W44 (p=0.0031; Fig 1a). JIA ACR50/30/70 response rates (Fig 1b) and ΔCHAQ-DI (Fig 1c) at W44, and time to disease flare in Part 2 (Fig 2a), were improved with tofacitinib vs PBO. Tofacitinib reduced JADAS27-CRP in Part 1; this effect was sustained in Part 2 (Fig 2b). Overall, safety was similar with tofacitinib or PBO (Table): 77.3% and 74.1% had adverse events (AEs); 1.1% and 2.4% had serious AEs. In Part 1, 2 pts had herpes zoster (non-serious) and 3 pts had serious infections (SIs). In Part 2, SIs occurred in 1 tofacitinib pt and 1 PBO pt. No pts died.Conclusion:In pcJIA pts, tofacitinib vs PBO resulted in significantly fewer disease flares, and improved time to flare, disease activity and physical functioning. Tofacitinib safety was consistent with that in RA pts.Table.Safety in all ptsPart 1Part 2TofacitinibaN=225TofacitinibaN=88PBO N=85Pts with events, n (%)AEs153 (68.0)68 (77.3)63 (74.1)SAEs7 (3.1)1 (1.1)2 (2.4)Permanent discontinuations due to AEs26 (11.6)16 (18.2)29 (34.1)AEs of special interest Death000 Gastrointestinal perforationb000 Hepatic eventb3 (1.3)00 Herpes zoster (non-serious and serious)2 (0.9)c00 Interstitial lung diseaseb000 Major adverse cardiovascular eventsb000 Malignancy (including non-melanoma skin cancer)b000 Macrophage activation syndromeb000 Opportunistic infectionb000 SI3 (1.3)1 (1.1)d1 (1.2) Thrombotic event (deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolismbor arterial thromboembolism)000 Tuberculosisb000a5 mg BID or equivalent weight-based lower dose in pts <40 kgbAdjudicated eventscBoth non-seriousdOne SAE of pilonidal cyst repair was coded to surgical procedures instead of infections, and was inadvertently not identified as an SI. Following adjudication, the SAE did not meet opportunistic infection criteria; it is also included in the table as an SIAE, adverse event; BID, twice daily; PBO, placebo; pts, patients; SAE, serious AE; SI, serious infectionAcknowledgments:Study sponsored by Pfizer Inc. Medical writing support was provided by Sarah Piggott of CMC Connect and funded by Pfizer Inc.Disclosure of Interests:Nicolino Ruperto Grant/research support from: Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eli Lily, F Hoffmann-La Roche, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, Sobi (paid to institution), Consultant of: Ablynx, AbbVie, AstraZeneca-Medimmune, Biogen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eli Lily, EMD Serono, GlaxoSmithKline, Hoffmann-La Roche, Janssen, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, R-Pharma, Sanofi, Servier, Sinergie, Sobi, Takeda, Speakers bureau: Ablynx, AbbVie, AstraZeneca-Medimmune, Biogen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eli Lily, EMD Serono, GlaxoSmithKline, Hoffmann-La Roche, Janssen, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, R-Pharma, Sanofi, Servier, Sinergie, Sobi, Takeda, Olga Synoverska Speakers bureau: Sanofi, Tracy Ting: None declared, Carlos Abud-Mendoza Speakers bureau: Eli Lilly, Pfizer Inc, Alberto Spindler Speakers bureau: Eli Lilly, Yulia Vyzhga Grant/research support from: Pfizer Inc, Katherine Marzan Grant/research support from: Novartis, Vladimir Keltsev: None declared, Irit Tirosh: None declared, Lisa Imundo: None declared, Rita Jerath: None declared, Daniel Kingsbury: None declared, Betül Sözeri: None declared, Sheetal Vora: None declared, Sampath Prahalad Grant/research support from: Novartis, Elena Zholobova Grant/research support from: Novartis and Pfizer Inc, Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Novartis, Pfizer Inc and Roche, Yonatan Butbul Aviel: None declared, Vyacheslav Chasnyk: None declared, Melissa Lerman Grant/research support from: Amgen, Kabita Nanda Grant/research support from: Abbott, AbbVie, Amgen and Roche, Heinrike Schmeling Grant/research support from: Janssen, Pfizer Inc, Roche and USB Bioscience, Heather Tory: None declared, Yosef Uziel Speakers bureau: Pfizer Inc, Diego O Viola Grant/research support from: Bristol-Myers Squibb, GSK, Janssen and Pfizer Inc, Speakers bureau: AbbVie and Bristol-Myers Squibb, Holly Posner Shareholder of: Pfizer Inc, Employee of: Pfizer Inc, Keith Kanik Shareholder of: Pfizer Inc, Employee of: Pfizer Inc, Ann Wouters Shareholder of: Pfizer Inc, Employee of: Pfizer Inc, Cheng Chang Shareholder of: Pfizer Inc, Employee of: Pfizer Inc, Richard Zhang Shareholder of: Pfizer Inc, Employee of: Pfizer Inc, Irina Lazariciu Consultant of: Pfizer Inc, Employee of: IQVIA, Ming-Ann Hsu Shareholder of: Pfizer Inc, Employee of: Pfizer Inc, Ricardo Suehiro Shareholder of: Pfizer Inc, Employee of: Pfizer Inc, Alberto Martini Consultant of: AbbVie, Eli Lily, EMD Serono, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, UCB, Daniel J Lovell Consultant of: Abbott (consulting and PI), AbbVie (PI), Amgen (consultant and DSMC Chairperson), AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb (PI), Celgene, Forest Research (DSMB Chairman), GlaxoSmithKline, Hoffman-La Roche, Janssen (co-PI), Novartis (consultant and PI), Pfizer (consultant and PI), Roche (PI), Takeda, UBC (consultant and PI), Wyeth, Employee of: Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Speakers bureau: Wyeth, Hermine Brunner Consultant of: Hoffman-La Roche, Novartis, Pfizer, Sanofi Aventis, Merck Serono, AbbVie, Amgen, Alter, AstraZeneca, Baxalta Biosimilars, Biogen Idec, Boehringer, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene, EMD Serono, Janssen, MedImmune, Novartis, Pfizer, and UCB Biosciences, Speakers bureau: GSK, Roche, and Novartis

These data were presented at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting in 2017 (Winthrop KL et al. Ann Rheum Dis 2017;76[Suppl 2]) and are used here with permission from John Wiley & Sons, Inc. To cite Winthrop KL, Wouters A, Choy EH, et al. Ann Rheum Dis Epub ahead of print: [please include Day Month Year].

Objectives: Tofacitinib is an oral Janus kinase inhibitor for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We characterized tofacitinib efficacy/safety in Indian vs rest of the world (ROW; excluding India) RA patients. Methods: Efficacy data were pooled for disease-modified antirheumatic drug (DMARD) inadequate responders from Phase (P)3 studies. For Indian patients, ORAL Solo and ORAL Scan; ROW (excluding India), these studies plus ORAL Step, ORAL Sync, and ORAL Standard. Safety data also included ORAL Start (P3; methotrexate-naïve) and ORAL Sequel (long-term extension [LTE] study; data cutoff March 2017) for Indian patients, and these studies plus A3921041 (LTE study; Japanese study) for ROW. Efficacy outcomes at months 3/6: American College of Rheumatology (ACR)20/50/70; Disease Activity Score in 28 joints, erythrocyte sedimentation rate remission/low disease activity; change from baseline in Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index. Incidence rates (IRs; patients with events/100 patient-years) for adverse events of special interest (AESIs) were assessed throughout. Descriptive data underwent no formal comparison. Results: One-hundred-and-ninety-seven Indian and 3879 ROW patients were included. Compared with ROW patients, Indian patients were younger, had lower body mass index, shorter RA duration, and higher baseline disease activity; most Indian patients were non-smokers and all were biologic DMARD (bDMARD)-naïve. Month 3 ACR20 rates with tofacitinib 5 mg twice daily/10 mg twice daily/placebo were 67.4%/82.1%/40.9% (India) and 59.0%/66.1%/28.2% (ROW), and month 6 rates were 76.2%/92.1%/88.9% (India) and 69.0%/74.2%/66.5% (ROW). Month 3/6 improvements in other outcomes were generally numerically greater with tofacitinib vs placebo, and similar in both populations. Compared with ROW, Indian patients had numerically fewer AEs/serious AEs, and similar IRs for discontinuations due to AEs This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License, which permits use and distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non-commercial and no modifications or adaptations are made.