Preliminary data from a phase 4 post-marketing safety trial of the arthritis drug tofacitinib have turned up worrying results for the Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor, indicating an elevated risk of causing heart problems and cancer in some patients. Read more in The Lancet Rheumatology.
The Lancet Rheumatology
Tofacitinib approved for arthritis treatment in children
On Sept 28, 2020, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Pfizer’s targeted synthetic drug tofacitinib (Xeljanz) for the treatment of polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis. The drug, a Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor, had previously been approved for use in adults with rheumatoid arthritis, but is the first in its class to be approved to […]
Hydroxychloroquine side-effects raise concerns for rheumatology patients
The hype surrounding hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) as a potential treatment for COVID-19 has led to problems for patients who use the drug to treat conditions like lupus, leading to shortages in pharmacies and worries about potentially dangerous side-effects, according to rheumatologists. Read more in The Lancet Rheumatology.
Excitement around hydroxychloroquine for treating COVID-19 causes challenges for rheumatology
Excitement about a potential new treatment for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic currently engulfing the world is causing problems for patients with arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), who routinely use the drug to control their symptoms. Read more in The Lancet Rheumatology.