In a recent phase 3 trial, the investigational oral JAK1 inhibitor upadacitinib met all primary and secondary endpoints in patients with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis – including clinical remission – compared with adalimumab and placebo, according to its manufacturer.
The ongoing SELECT-COMPARE trial randomized patients with a stable background on methotrexate but with a limited response to the drug to upadacitinib (n = 651), adalimumab (n = 327), or placebo (n = 651). In terms of primary endpoints, 28% of patients taking upadacitinib achieved remission based on 28-joint Disease Activity Score using C-reactive protein at week 12, compared with 18% of those taking adalimumab and 6% taking placebo. A total of 71% achieved an American College of Rheumatology 20% (ACR20) level of response, compared with 63% of those taking adalimumab and 36% of those taking placebo.
In addition, upadacitinib met the ranked secondary endpoints, showing superiority over adalimumab. It did so in terms of ACR50 and ACR70 at week 12, as well as reduction in patient pain scores and improvement in physical function at week 12. Furthermore, it significantly inhibited radiographic progression.
The safety profile was consistent with previous findings: By week 26, 3.7% of patients taking upadacitinib experienced serious adverse events, compared with 4.3% of patients taking adalimumab and 2.9% of those taking placebo.
Find out more in AbbVie’s press release.