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Objective: Increased risk of serious adverse events (AEs) was reported for tofacitinib relative to tumour necrosis factor inhibitor therapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) aged ≥50 years enriched for cardiovascular (CV) risk (ORAL Surveillance). We assessed post hoc the potential risk of upadacitinib in a similar RA population., Methods: Pooled safety data from six phase III trials were evaluated post hoc for AEs in patients receiving upadacitinib 15 mg once a day (with or without conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs), adalimumab 40 mg every other week with concomitant methotrexate (MTX), or MTX monotherapy in the overall trial population and in a subset of patients with higher CV risk (aged ≥50 years, ≥1 CV risk factor). Higher-risk patients from a head-to-head study of upadacitinib 15 mg versus adalimumab (SELECT-COMPARE) were assessed in parallel. Exposure-adjusted incidence rates for treatment-emergent AEs were summarised based on exposure to upadacitinib or comparators., Results: A total of 3209 patients received upadacitinib 15 mg, 579 received adalimumab and 314 received MTX monotherapy; ~54% of the patients were included in the overall and SELECT-COMPARE higher-risk populations. Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), malignancy (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC)) and venous thromboembolism (VTE) were more frequent in the higher-risk cohorts versus the overall population but were generally similar across treatment groups. Rates of serious infections in higher-risk populations and herpes zoster (HZ) and NMSC in all populations were higher with upadacitinib 15 mg than comparators., Conclusions: An increased risk of MACE, malignancy (excluding NMSC) and VTE was observed in higher-risk populations with RA, yet risk was comparable between upadacitinib-treated and adalimumab-treated patients. Higher rates of NMSC and HZ were observed with upadacitinib versus comparators across all populations, and increased rates of serious infections were detected in upadacitinib-treated patients at higher CV risk., Trial Registration Numbers: NCT02706873, NCT02675426, NCT02629159, NCT02706951, NCT02706847 and NCT03086343., Competing Interests: Competing interests: RF: research grants and consulting fees from AbbVie, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Biogen, BMS, Boehringer-Ingleheim, Flexion, Galapagos, Galvani, Genentech, Gilead, GSK, Janssen, Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi-Aventis and UCB. JRC: consulting fees and research support from AbbVie, Amgen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Janssen, CorEvitas, Lilly, Novartis, Myriad, Sanofi, Pfizer and UCB. CC-S: research grants from AbbVie, BMS, CSL Behring and Pfizer; consultancy for AbbVie, Priovant Therapeutics, Octapharma, BMS, Pfizer, Gilead and Regeneron-Sanofi. EFM: research grants and consulting fees from AbbVie, Amgen, Astra Zeneca, Novartis, Lilly, Pfizer, Roche, BMS, Sandoz, GSK, Janssen and Sanofi. KY: consultancy fees from AbbVie, Pfizer, Gilead G.K., Asahi Kasei Pharma, Astellas Pharma, Eli Lilly Japan and Japan Tobacco; member of the speaker’s bureau at Astellas, Bristol Myers Squibb, Chugai, Eisai, Eli Lilly Japan, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen, Mitsubishi-Tanabe Pharma, Pfizer and Takeda; and research funding from Bristol Myers Squibb, Chugai, GlaxoSmithKline and Mitsubishi-Tanabe Pharma. CR: consultancy and speaking fees from Amgen, AstraZeneca, Roche, BMS, Galapagos, GSK, Lilly, Hospira, Biogen, Sandoz, Mylan, Novartis and Pfizer. GRB: speaking or consulting fees from AbbVie, BMS, Lilly, Galapagos, Janssen, MSD, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi and UCB. JL, HP, DD and SS: AbbVie employees and may own stocks or options., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Objectives: To evaluate malignancies and their associations with baseline risk factors and cardiovascular risk scores with tofacitinib versus tumour necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA)., Methods: In an open-label, randomised controlled trial (ORAL Surveillance; NCT02092467), 4362 patients with RA aged ≥50 years with ≥1 additional cardiovascular risk factor received tofacitinib 5 (N=1455) or 10 mg two times per day (N=1456) or TNFi (N=1451). Incidence rates (IRs; patients with first events/100 patient-years) and HRs were calculated for adjudicated malignancies excluding non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC), NMSC and subtypes. Post hoc analyses for malignancies excluding NMSC, lung cancer and NMSC included risk factors identified via simple/multivariable Cox models and IRs/HRs categorised by baseline risk factors, history of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (HxASCVD) and cardiovascular risk scores., Results: IRs for malignancies excluding NMSC and NMSC were higher with tofacitinib (combined and individual doses) versus TNFi. Risk of lung cancer (most common subtype with tofacitinib) was higher with tofacitinib 10 mg two times per day versus TNFi. In the overall study population, the risk of malignancies excluding NMSC was similar between both tofacitinib doses and TNFi until month 18 and diverged from month 18 onwards (HR (95% CIs) for combined tofacitinib doses: 0.93 (0.53 to 1.62) from baseline to month 18 vs 1.93 (1.22 to 3.06) from month 18 onwards, interaction p=0.0469). Cox analyses identified baseline risk factors across treatment groups for malignancies excluding NMSC, lung cancer and NMSC; interaction analyses generally did not show statistical evidence of interaction between treatment groups and risk factors. HxASCVD or increasing cardiovascular risk scores were associated with higher malignancy IRs across treatments., Conclusions: Risk of malignancies was increased with tofacitinib versus TNFi, and incidence was highest in patients with HxASCVD or increasing cardiovascular risk. This may be due to shared risk factors for cardiovascular risk and cancer., Trial Registration Numbers: NCT02092467, NCT01262118, NCT01484561, NCT00147498, NCT00413660, NCT00550446, NCT00603512, NCT00687193, NCT01164579, NCT00976599, NCT01059864, NCT01359150, NCT02147587, NCT00960440, NCT00847613, NCT00814307, NCT00856544, NCT00853385, NCT01039688, NCT02281552, NCT02187055, NCT02831855, NCT00413699, NCT00661661., Competing Interests: Competing interests: JRC has received research/grant support from Amgen, CorEvitas, Crescendo Bio and Pfizer; and is a consultant for AbbVie, Amgen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, CorEvitas, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Myriad, Pfizer, Roche/Genentech and UCB. KY has received research/grant support from Astellas Pharma, Eisai Pharma, Eli Lilly Japan KK, GlaxoSmithKline, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma, MSD, Pfizer and Teijin Pharma; is a consultant for AbbVie, Asahi Kasei Pharma, Astellas Pharma, Eli Lilly Japan KK, Gilead GK, Japan Tobacco and Pfizer; and is part of speakers’ bureau for AbbVie, Actelion Pharmaceuticals Japan, Asahi Kasei Pharma, Astellas Pharma, AYUMI Pharma Co., Boehringer Ingelheim Japan, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Chugai Pharma, Daiichi Sankyo, Eli Lilly Japan KK, Eisai Pharma, Gilead GK, GlaxoSmithKline, Hisamitsu Pharma Co., Janssen, Japan Tobacco, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma, MSD, Nippon Kayaku, Nippon Shinyaku, Ono Pharma, Otsuka Pharma, Pfizer, Sanofi and Takeda. Y-HC has received research/grant support from AbbVie, Agnitio Science & Technology, Astellas Pharma, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Chugai Pharma Taiwan, GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson, MSD, National Yang-Ming University, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi, Taiwan Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan Department of Health and Welfare, Taichung Veterans General Hospital and UCB; and is a consultant for AbbVie, AstraZeneca, Astellas Pharma, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Chugai Pharma Taiwan, Inova Diagnostics, Eli Lilly, Johnson & Johnson, GlaxoSmithKline, MSD, Novartis, Roche, Sanofi, Thermo Fisher Scientific, UCB and United Biopharma. DLB served as a member of the Steering Committee for ORAL Surveillance, with funding from Pfizer paid to Brigham and Women’s Hospital. He is a member of the advisory board for: AngioWave, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Cardax, CellProthera, Cereno Scientific, Elsevier Practice Update Cardiology, High Enroll, Janssen, Level Ex, Medscape Cardiology, Merck, MyoKardia, NirvaMed, Novo Nordisk, PhaseBio, PLx Pharma, Regado Biosciences, Stasys; Board of Directors: AngioWave (stock options), Boston VA Research Institute, Bristol-Myers Squibb (stock), DRS.LINQ (stock options), High Enroll (stock), Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care, TobeSoft; Chair: Inaugural Chair, American Heart Association Quality Oversight Committee; Data Monitoring Committees: Acesion Pharma, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Baim Institute for Clinical Research (formerly Harvard Clinical Research Institute, for the PORTICO trial, funded by St. Jude Medical, now Abbott), Boston Scientific (Chair, PEITHO trial), Cleveland Clinic (including for the ExCEED trial, funded by Edwards), Contego Medical (Chair, PERFORMANCE 2), Duke Clinical Research Institute, Mayo Clinic, Mount Sinai School of Medicine (for the ENVISAGE trial, funded by Daiichi Sankyo; for the ABILITY-DM trial, funded by Concept Medical), Novartis, Population Health Research Institute; Rutgers University (for the NIH-funded MINT Trial); Honoraria: American College of Cardiology (Senior Associate Editor, Clinical Trials and News, ACC.org; Chair, ACC Accreditation Oversight Committee), Arnold and Porter law firm (work related to Sanofi/Bristol-Myers Squibb clopidogrel litigation), Baim Institute for Clinical Research (formerly Harvard Clinical Research Institute; RE-DUAL PCI clinical trial steering committee funded by Boehringer Ingelheim; AEGIS-II executive committee funded by CSL Behring), Belvoir Publications (Editor in Chief, Harvard Heart Letter), Canadian Medical and Surgical Knowledge Translation Research Group (clinical trial steering committees), Cowen and Company, Duke Clinical Research Institute (clinical trial steering committees, including for the PRONOUNCE trial, funded by Ferring Pharmaceuticals), HMP Global (Editor in Chief, Journal of Invasive Cardiology), Journal of the American College of Cardiology (Guest Editor; Associate Editor), K2P (Co-Chair, interdisciplinary curriculum), Level Ex, Medtelligence/ReachMD (CME steering committees), MJH Life Sciences, Oakstone CME (Course Director, Comprehensive Review of Interventional Cardiology), Piper Sandler, Population Health Research Institute (for the COMPASS operations committee, publications committee, steering committee, and USA national co-leader, funded by Bayer), Slack Publications (Chief Medical Editor, Cardiology Today’s Intervention), Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care (Secretary/Treasurer), WebMD (CME steering committees), Wiley (steering committee); Other: Clinical Cardiology (Deputy Editor), NCDR-ACTION Registry Steering Committee (Chair), VA CART Research and Publications Committee (Chair); Patent: Sotagliflozin (named on a patent for sotagliflozin assigned to Brigham and Women's Hospital who assigned to Lexicon; DLB/Brigham and Women's Hospital do not receive any income from this patent); Research Funding: Abbott, Acesion Pharma, Afimmune, Aker Biomarine, Amarin, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Beren, Boehringer Ingelheim, Boston Scientific, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Cardax, CellProthera, Cereno Scientific, Chiesi, CSL Behring, Eisai, Ethicon, Faraday Pharmaceuticals, Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Forest Laboratories, Fractyl, Garmin, HLS Therapeutics, Idorsia, Ironwood, Ischemix, Janssen, Javelin, Lexicon, Lilly, Medtronic, Merck, Moderna, MyoKardia, NirvaMed, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Owkin, Pfizer, PhaseBio, PLx Pharma, Recardio, Regeneron, Reid Hoffman Foundation, Roche, Sanofi, Stasys, Synaptic, The Medicines Company, 89Bio; Royalties: Elsevier (Editor, Braunwald’s Heart Disease); Site Co-Investigator: Abbott, Biotronik, Boston Scientific, CSI, Endotronix, St. Jude Medical (now Abbott), Philips, SpectraWAVE, Svelte, Vascular Solutions; Trustee: American College of Cardiology; Unfunded Research: FlowCo, Takeda. LMG, NS, CW, JW, SM and IV are shareholders and employees of Pfizer. CAC was a shareholder and employee of Pfizer at the time of this analysis. JJG-R has received research/grant support from AbbVie, MSD, Pfizer and Roche; is a consultant for Pfizer; and is part of speakers’ bureau for AbbVie, Biogen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Janssen, MSD, Pfizer and Roche., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: Upadacitinib (UPA) is an oral Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor approved for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). JAK inhibitors have been associated with an increased risk of herpes zoster (HZ) in patients with RA., Objectives: To evaluate the incidence and risk factors for HZ in UPA-treated patients with RA from the UPA phase III clinical trial programme., Methods: Exposure-adjusted incidence/event rates for HZ were determined in patients receiving UPA (monotherapy or combination therapy) in six randomised phase III trials (data cut-off on 30 June 2020). HZ incidence and event rates were also determined in patients receiving methotrexate (MTX) monotherapy or adalimumab (ADA) + MTX. Multivariable Cox regression analysis was used to identify HZ risk factors in UPA-treated patients., Results: A total of 5306 patients were included in this analysis. The incidence rate of HZ/100 patient-years (95% CI) was 0.8 (0.3 to 1.9), 1.1 (0.5 to 1.9), 3.0 (2.6 to 3.5) and 5.3 (4.5 to 6.2), in the MTX monotherapy, ADA + MTX, UPA 15 mg and UPA 30 mg groups, respectively. The majority of HZ cases with UPA (71%) involved a single dermatome. Prior history of HZ and Asian region were HZ risk factors in UPA-treated patients., Conclusion: In the UPA phase III RA clinical programme, HZ incidence and event rates were higher with UPA versus ADA + MTX or MTX monotherapy, and higher with the 30 mg versus 15 mg dose. Patients from Asia and those with a history of HZ may be at increased risk of HZ while receiving UPA., Competing Interests: Competing interests: KLW: Consulting fees and research grants from: AbbVie, BMS, Eli Lilly, Galapagos, Gilead, Pfizer, Roche and UCB. PN: Funding for clinical trials, research grants and honoraria for lectures and advice from: AbbVie, Amgen, BMS, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi-Aventis and UCB. KY: Speakers bureau: AbbVie GK, Astellas, BMS, Chugai, Mitsubishi-Tanabe, Pfizer and Takeda. EM: Research grants and/or consulting fees from: AbbVie, Amgen, AstraZeneca, BMS, Eli Lilly, GSK, Janssen, Pfizer, Roche, Sandoz and Sanofi. JLS, NK, HSC and YS: AbbVie employees and may own stock or options. JRC: Research grants and/or consulting fees from: AbbVie, Amgen, BMS, Corrona, Crescendo, Janssen, Pfizer, Regeneron/Sanofi and UCB., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2022. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Objectives: Multiomics study was conducted to elucidate the crucial molecular mechanisms of primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS) pathology., Methods: We generated multiple data set from well-defined patients with SS, which includes whole-blood transcriptomes, serum proteomes and peripheral immunophenotyping. Based on our newly generated data, we performed an extensive bioinformatic investigation., Results: Our integrative analysis identified SS gene signatures (SGS) dysregulated in widespread omics layers, including epigenomes, mRNAs and proteins. SGS predominantly involved the interferon signature and ADAMs substrates. Besides, SGS was significantly overlapped with SS-causing genes indicated by a genome-wide association study and expression trait loci analyses. Combining the molecular signatures with immunophenotypic profiles revealed that cytotoxic CD8 -T cells- were associated with SGS. Further, we observed the activation of SGS in cytotoxic CD8 T cells isolated from patients with SS., Conclusions: Our multiomics investigation identified gene signatures deeply associated with SS pathology and showed the involvement of cytotoxic CD8 T cells. These integrative relations across multiple layers will facilitate our understanding of SS at the system level., (© Article author(s) (or their employer(s) unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2017. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.)

Objectives: To investigate the possibility of discontinuing adalimumab (ADA) for 1 year without flaring (DAS28-erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) ≥3.2), and to identify factors enabling established patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to remain ADA-free., Methods: Of 197 RA patients treated with ADA+methotrexate (MTX), 75 patients who met the ADA-free criteria (steroid-free and sustained DAS28-ESR remission for 6 months with stable MTX doses) were studied for 1 year., Results: The mean disease duration and DAS28-ESR score in 75 patients was 7.5 years and 5.1 at baseline, respectively. The proportion of patients who sustained DAS28-ESR <2.6 (48%) and DAS28-ESR <3.2 (62%) for 1 year were significantly lower in the ADA discontinuation group than in the ADA continuation group; however, in patients with deep remission (DAS28-ESR ≤1.98) identified by receiver operating characteristics analysis following logistic analysis, these rates increased to 68% and 79%, respectively, with no significant difference between both groups. Remarkably, ADA readministration to patients with flare was effective in returning DAS28-ESR to <3.2 within 6 months in 90% and 9 months in 100% patients; among the patients who sustained DAS28-ESR <3.2 during ADA discontinuation, 100% remained in structural remission and 94% in functional remission., Conclusions: The possibility of remaining ADA-free for 1 year was demonstrated in established patients with RA with outcomes that ADA can be discontinued without flaring in 79% patients with deep remission, with similar rates in the ADA continuation group, and showed no functional or structural damage in patients with DAS28-ESR <3.2. ADA readministration to patients with flare during ADA discontinuation was effective., (Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.)

Objective: Tofacitinib, which is a Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor, has shown clinical effects in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. JAKs are important kinases in lymphocyte differentiation; however, their function in dendritic cells (DCs) is unknown. In this study, the function of JAKs in DCs was investigated with tofacitinib., Methods: The effects of tofacitinib on the maturation of human monocyte-derived DCs induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation were investigated. In addition, its effects on T cell stimulatory capability was investigated by coculturing with naïve CD45RA-positive T cells., Results: Tofacitinib decreased expression of CD80/CD86 in a concentration-dependent manner in LPS-stimulated DCs; however, it did not affect HLA-DR expression. Tofacitinib suppressed tumour necrosis factor, interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1β production without affecting transforming growth factor (TGF)-β and IL-10 production. Meanwhile, CD80/CD86 expression in DCs was enhanced by type I interferon (IFN) stimulation, and the LPS-induced CD80/CD86 expression was inhibited by an antibody to type I IFN receptor. Furthermore, tofacitinib suppressed production of type I IFN and activation of interferon regulatory factor (IRF)-7, which is a transcription factor involved in CD80/CD86 and type I IFN expression. Tofacitinib also decreased the T cell stimulatory capability of DCs and increased expression of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO)-1 and IDO-2., Conclusions: Tofacitinib, a JAK1/JAK3 inhibitor, affected the activities of human DCs. It decreased CD80/CD86 expression and T cell stimulatory capability through suppression of type I IFN signalling. These results suggest a novel mode of action for tofacitinib and a pivotal role for JAKs in the differentiation of DCs., (Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.)

Biological therapies directed at proinflammatory cytokines have irrevocably changed the landscape of treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other autoimmune diseases. With the advances in our knowledge in cytokine signalling, the question emerges whether targeting intracellular signalling might also be a safe and efficacious strategy. Janus kinases or Jaks are critical for a large family of cytokines and the first Jak inhibitors has been approved by the FDA. It is therefore timely to consider this new category of drugs and reflect on their potential roles, present and future, in the treatment of RA and related disorders.