Key clinical point: Continuous 6-month therapy with interleukin-6 receptor inhibitors (IL-6Ri) vs tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) or Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKi) demonstrated greater improvements in hemoglobin and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels regardless of baseline levels in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Major finding: Six months of continuous therapy with IL-6Ri vs TNFi and JAKi led to significantly greater improvements in hemoglobin levels (adjusted odds ratios for achieving normal hemoglobin levels 3.15 and 3.85, respectively; both P < .001) and greater reductions in CRP levels (P < .01) regardless of baseline levels.
Study details: The data come from an analysis of 2772 patients with RA who received continuous TNFi, IL-6Ri, or JAKi treatment for ≥6 months.
Disclosures: This study was funded by Sanofi, and the RA registry was sponsored by CorEvitas, LLC. Six authors declared being current or former employees of, consultants for, or holding shares or stocks or stock options in Sanofi or CorEvitas LLC.
Source: Padula AS et al. The effect of targeted rheumatoid arthritis therapeutics on systemic inflammation and anemia: Analysis of data from the CorEvitas RA registry. Arthritis Res Ther. 2022;24:276 (Dec 21). Doi: 10.1186/s13075-022-02955-y