Filgotinib may improve health and quality of life in people with rheumatoid arthritis

Filgotinib on its own or in combination with methotrexate appears to increase quality of life measures in people with rheumatoid arthritis and reduces some symptoms, says new research in Arthritis Research & Therapy.

Filgotinib is a promising JAK1 inhibitor that is being trialled in people with rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn’s disease. The latest findings come after experts split people with moderate-to-severe active rheumatoid arthritis and an inadequate response to methotrexate into groups. Some then received daily filgotinib and others were given a pretend drug, either along with methotrexate or on its own.

After 12 weeks, people in the filgotinib group had greater improvements in patient reported outcomes than those in the pretend drug group. Measures of disability (such as getting up, eating and walking) fatigue scores and pain scores were all better. Some improvements were noted after only one week.

People who started with the pretend drug and were then moved to filgotinib then experienced these benefits too.

The study authors conclude:

“Filgotinib as methotrexate add-on therapy or as monotherapy demonstrated rapid and sustained (to 24 weeks) improvements in health-related quality of life and functional status in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis.”

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