Studies show no increased risk of cancer, CV events with JAK inhibitors

In this video, Raymond Cross, MD, spoke with Healio about several studies assessing the safety and efficacy of JAK inhibitors in patients with IBD presented at Digestive Disease Week 2024.

Cross discussed two studies using retrospective administrative claims data that assessed risk for cardiovascular events and cancer in patients with IBD who received treatment with JAK inhibitors, and another that compared the use of tofacitinib (Xeljanz, Pfizer) and upadacitinib (Rinvoq, AbbVie) in patients with ulcerative colitis.

“There was no signal that there was a higher risk of cancer in patients treated with JAK inhibitors … compared to other advanced therapies or people being on no therapy,” Cross, who was a professor of medicine and director of the IBD Program at the University of Maryland School of Medicine at the time of the interview, told Healio.

He noted that the results in the study on cardiovascular outcomes showed that JAK inhibitors did not appear to be associated with adverse events, but that certain biologics appeared to be protective towards adverse cardiovascular events.

“There was no signal of it [JAK inhibitors] having increased risk compared to patients not on JAK inhibitors, but the other biologics look like they may be protective,” Cross said.

He also discussed results from a study comparing the use of tofacitinib to upadacitinib in patients with ulcerative colitis.

“It basically reported what our intuition is, suggesting that upadacitinib is more effective,” Cross said.

References:

• Dalal RS, et al. One-year comparative effectiveness of upadacitinib versus tofacitinib for ulcerative colitis: A multicenter cohort study. Presented at: Digestive Disease Week; May 18-21, 2024; Washington (hybrid).
• Patel P, et al. Biologics and JAK inhibitors decrease major cardiovascular events (MACE) in IBD patients. Data from a large national cohort. Is it the mechanism of the drug or control of disease? Presented at: Digestive Disease Week; May 18-21, 2024; Washington (hybrid).
• Qapaja T, et al. Oral small molecules are not associated with increase cancer rates in IBD patients. Presented at: Digestive Disease Week; May 18-21, 2024; Washington (hybrid).

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Sources/Disclosures

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Source:

Healio Interviews

Disclosures:
Cross reports receiving compensation for consulting or advising for AbbVie, Adiso, BMS, Fresenius Kabi, Fzata, Janssen, Magellan Health, Option Care, Pfizer, Samsung Bioepis, Sandoz, Sebela and Takeda; research grants from Janssen; being on the executive committee at IBD education group; and serving as scientific co-director of CorEvitas.

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