Key clinical point: In patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), baricitinib showed better treatment responses than tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors, whereas treatment response for tofacitinib was not significantly different vs. baricitinib or biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARD).
Major finding: At 1 year, TNFi vs. baricitinib showed lower European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (difference −4.3%; 95% CI −8.7% to 0.1%), Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index improvement (difference −9.9%; 95% CI −14.4% to −5.4%), and Clinical Disease Activity Index remission (difference −6%; 95% CI −9.8% to −2.2%). Tofacitinib showed similar treatment responses vs. bDMARDs or baricitinib.
Study details: This was a nationwide cohort study involving patients with RA who initiated baricitinib (n = 1,420), tofacitinib (n = 316), abatacept (n = 1,050), interleukin-6 inhibitors (n = 849), rituximab (n = 1,101), or TNF inhibitors (n = 6,036).
Disclosures: This work was supported by the Swedish Research Council and others. J Askling, K Chatzidionysiou, and C Turesson reported receiving research grants and consulting and speaker fees from various sources. A Kastbom reported being employed by Sanofi.
Source: Barbulescu A et al. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2022 (Feb 3). Doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/keac068